ANNALS 



OF THt: 



TOWN OF KEENE, 



from: ITS FIRST SBTTZjEZSENT, ZXr 1734, 



TO THE VEAR 1790. 



BY SALMA HALE. 



ffirst published in the Collections of the Ntw-Hampshire Historical SocietT. 



ro^'-'j' .. 



CONCORD : 

PRINTED BY JACOB B. MOORF. 

18?6, 



% 






ilvef«ice. 



The following annals were compiled at the request of the New- 
Hampshire Historical Society, and of several citizens of Keeoe. 
It was thought of some public importance to seize the opportunity, 
now rapidly passing away, of placing on record, to preserve from 
oblivion, the most interesting events which, since its first settle- 
ment, have occurred in this place. It has been the principal 
object of the compiler to give a correct and lively impress of the 
age gone by. This he thought could be best arcomplishpd by 
copying freely and fully such written documents as came under 
his inspection. " Speak, that I may know thee," was the address 
of a Grecian sage to a stranger. That the present generation 
and posterity may know their ancestors, they have here been 
brought forward to speak for themselves. 

For the facts and proceedings, not related in the words of the 
actors, the public are indebted to Thomas Wells, Joseph Ellis, and 
several others, aged and respectable inhabitants of this town, or 
of that portion of Sullivan which once formed apart of it 



^nnal!^ of icrcnr. 



-^•©•♦i«- 



Keene, which is one of the shire towns in the 
county of Cheshire, was first settled under the au- 
thority of Massachusetts. At the time of its set- 
tlement, the line between that colony and New- 
Hampshire had not been surveyed, nor its direction 
ascertained, and it was generally supposed that 
the valley of the Ashuelot* would fall within the 
boundaries of the former. 

1732. ' 

In June, Gov. Belcher, in his speech to the 
" Great and General Court" of Massachusetts, re- 
commended, that " care be taken to settle tfie un- 
granted land." In the House of Representatives, 
it was thereupon voted, "that there be seven towns 
opened, of the contents of six miles square ; one 
vest of the Narraganset town, that is near Wachu- 
sett Hill ; one between the equivalent lands and 
Rutland, on or near the road lately laid out from 
Swift River to Rutland ; one at Poquaig, (Athol) 
on Miller's river ; one west of the town called 
Northtown ; two on Ashueiot river, above North- 
field ; and the other in the eastern country, at the 
head of Berwick : that committees be appointed to 
admit settlers and lay out house lots, so that the 
settlements may be made in a defensible manner, 
and to direct in the drawing thereof, but not to lay 
out any further division witliout directions from thi^, 
court ; that there shall be sixty-three house lots, 
laid out in each township, one for the first settled 
minister, one for the ministry, one for the school, 
and one for each of the sixty settlers, who shall set- 



* In the Indian language, the won! Ashueiot is saul to mean a colUction of ma- 
■ly waters. 



4 dnnals of Kecnc 

tie thcreOD, in his own person, or by any of ha 
children ; the rest of the land to be allotted or di- 
vided equally into sixty-three parts ; that one year 
from the survey be allowed for the admission 
of settlers, and that the committee be directed to 
demand and receive, from each settler, at his ad- 
mission, five pounds,* part of which shall be em- 
ployed for reimbursing the province the money to 
be advanced for paying the committees, and the 
charg»iS of the survey, the remainder to be em- 
ployed for building houses of publick worship, or 
otherwise, ac the General Court shall order ; that 
each settler actually live on his land w ithin three 
years after his admission, and continue there for 
the space of two years after, in person and with 
his family, if such he have ; that he do, within five 
years from his admission, build a Jiouse on his land, 
of eighteen feet square and seven feet stud, at the 
least, and within the same time do sufficiently fence 
and till, or fit for mowing, eight acres of Jand ; and 
in case any settler fail of performance, his right to 
be forfeited ; and the committee for admitting set- 
tlers are directed to take of each, at the time of 
admission, a bond for twenty pounds for the use 
and benefit of tlie settlers, in case he fail of per- 
forming the conditions mentioned ; and the settlers, 
in each" town, shall be obliged to build a suitable 



* This was piobnbly of the paper money then current in IMassncliusetts Like 
the contiiipntal money of later times, it was at par when the first issues were made, 
but afterwards depreciated greatly. The following table, shewing its value at dif- 
ferent periods, will enable the reader to calculate the value of the sums hereaf- 
ter mentioned in this history. The second and fouith col:unns shew the value, in 
paper, (old times) af an ounce of silver, which was equal lo six shillings and 
pjnht pence, lairful nnoney, 



' 


5. 


d. 


1' 




s. 


1702 


(; 


10 


2 


1728 


18 


1705 


7 






1730 


20 


1713 


8 






1737 


26 


KIH 


;t 






/7.11 


28 


1717 


yi 










1722 


14 






1749 


CO 



i. 



Soon after 1749, old tenor rose to lilty !>liiHiiit;s the ounce, the General Court of 
M.'.-sachusetts having eneaaed to rtuiceni ir at that rate with the money received 
froin tlic British parliamentras a iciniburscment for the pxpenscs incurred in tak- 
ing Louisboura;. At 50s. the ounce, 100 pounds were ef|nal to £13, 6j. M. lawful - 
atid 45 shillings were equal lo one dollar- 



Annals of Keene. 5 

nieetins: house, and settle a learned and orthodox 
minister, in such town, within five years from their 
admission." 

1733. 

On the first of July, this vote was concurred by 
- the Council, and " consented to" by the Governor; 
but the committee appointed to make the survey 
not attending to their duty, it was, Oct. 19, IT.i.J, 
voted, that another committee, consisting; of Jo- 
seph Kellog, Timothy Dwight, and William Chand- 
ler, be appointed, with directions, forthwith to lay 
out the townships at Poquaig and on Ashuelot riv- 
er, " unless they find that, by reason of laying out 
the township granted to Col. Willard and others, 
(Winchester,) the land remaining at Ashuelot river 
will not well serve for two townships, in which 
case, they are directed to lay out only one on that 
river." 

1734. 

In Februar}', the committee made a return to 
the General Court of a " Plat of two townships, 
each of the contents of six miles square, situated 
on each side of Ashuelot river above the tract of 
land lately granted to Col. Josiah Willard and oth- 
ers, beginning at a spruce or white pme tree, stand- 
ing about midway between the south and ea^t 
branches of said river, about five perch east of 
the bank of the main river, and thence runnin«- 
each way as described on the plat." This is tlie 
dividing line between the upper and lower town- 
ships. The plat was accepted, and the lands con- 
tained in said townships were declared to lie in, and 
constitute a part of, the county of Hampshire. 

In March, a committee was appointed to lay out 
house lots, in the townships mentioned, who, in 
June, made a report of a plat of the house lots in 
the upper township on Ashuelot river. Of these 
Jots, fifty-four were laid out on the village plain. 



Annals of Kecnt. 

twenty-seven on each side of the main street, and 
the other nine upon the plain, on Swanzey line, 
north of the factory. They were 160 rods long, 
and eight wide, each containing eight acres. The 
sur\eyors reported, that near the Sf)rii^e or white 
pine tree, above mentioned, they made their first 
station. Hence originated the name, Statia, which 
has been appHed to an excellent farm in that quar- 
ter of the town. The lots owned by Daniel Wat- 
son, and Dr. Twitchell, are the most northerly of 
the house lots. 

This committee being also authorized to admit 
settlers, they notified all persons, desirous of taking 
lots, to meet at Concord, in Massachusetts, on the 
26th of June. A few days previous to that time^ 
the General Court voted, that, after the sixty i)er- 
sons for each township shall have drawn lots, giv- 
en bonds, and paid their five pounds, according to 
the order of this Court, passed Jul}', 1732, they 
forthwith assemble, at Concord, Mass. and then 
and there choose a moderator and proprietors' clerk, 
agree upon rules and methods tor the fulfilment of 
their respective grants, for making further divis- 
ions, and for calling other meetings, and attend to 
any other matters or things necessary for the spee- 
dy settlement of said townships. No charter was 
ever granted to the proprietors by Massachusetts, 
and their title to the lands rested wholly upon 
these several votes of the General Court. 

Agreeably to the notice given by the committee, 
a meeting was held at Concord, on the 26th June, 
when the sixty settlers, for the upper township, on 
Ashuelot river, were admitted. Among them are 
found the names of Jeremiah Hall, John Hawks, 
William Smeed, Isaac Heaton, John Guild, Joseph 
Ellis, John Nims, Josiah Fisher. Mark Ferry, and 
Stephen Blake. 

The next day, a full meeting of the proprietors 
was held at Concord; Samuel .Sady was chosen 



Annals of Keene. V 

Moderator, aad Samuel Hey wood, proprietors' 
Clerk, " who was sworn before the worshiplul Jus- 
tice Goddard ;" anil the meeting was adjourned to 
the 18th of Sept. then to be held on the town- 
ship. 

In the succeeding September, seven persons, 
proprietors, or sons of proprietors, whose names 
were Jeremiah Hal), Daniel Hoar, Seth Heaton, 
Elisha Root, Nathaniel Rock wood, Josiah Fisher, 
William Puffer, set out for the township. None of 
them having previously visited it, they were ac- 
companied by Deacon Alexander, of Northfiehl, 
as a pilot. They did not arrive at the line of the 
township until late in the evening of the i8th. the 
day to which the meeting was adjourned; and as 
soon as their pilot informed them they had passed 
it, they opened the meeting, and adjourned to the 
next day. 

At the meeting held the next day, a vote was 
passed, that the whole of the interval land in the 
township should be surveyed, and that half of it 
should be lotted out in two enclosures, one so sit- 
uated as to accommodate the 54 house lots, laid out 
on the village plain, the other so as to accommo- 
date the 9 house lots, laid out on Swanzey line. A 
committee was also appointed " to search and find 
out the best and most convenient way to travel 
from the upper unto the lower township." 

At this period. Upper Ashuelot was a frontier 
settlement, in the bosom of the wilderness. It was 
of course most exposed to savage incursions, and 
was liable to suffer, in their extremity, all those;- 
distresses and calamities, w hich may be alleviated, 
if not prevented, by the assistance and good offices 
of others. Its nearest neighbor was Northfield, 
twenty miles distant ; Winchester, which was first 
granted, not being then settled, or containing at 
most not more than two or three huts. 



v 



8 Annals of Keene. 

1735. 

The next meeting of the proprietors was held 
at Concord, Mass. on the last Wednesday of May. 
The committee appointed to survey the interval 
land made a report. The lots they had laid out 
contained eigfit acres ; and as they were not all 
equal in quality, the proprietors voted that certain 
enumerated lots should have qualification, or al- 
lowance, to consist of from two to four acres each, 
and appointed a committee to lay out these allow- 
ances. The practice of qualifying lots, thus intro- 
duced, was afterwards pursued, and occasioned 
great irregularity in the future allotments of land. 

At this meeting, a committee was also appointed 
"tojom with such as the lower town proprietors 
shall appoint, to search and find out whether the 
ground will admit of a convenient road from the 
two townships, on Ashuelot river, down to the town 
of Townshend." 

At a subsequent meeting, held in September of 
the same year, on the township, the proprietors 
were assessed in the sum of sixty pounds, and a 
committee was " appointed to bill out this money 
according to the proprietors' directions." It ap- 
pears by the record, that the mode of billing out 
the money remaining in the treasury was often 
practised. A committee was also appointed to lay 
out a road to the Saw-mill place, which is about 
three quarters of a mile north from the house lots, 
and where the lower Saw-mill on Beaver brook now 
stands. A vote was also passed, offering one hun- 
dred acres of" middling good land," and twenty -five 
pounds, to any person or persons who would engage 
to build a saw-mill, and saw boards for the propri- 
etors, at twenty shillings per thousand, and slit work 
for £3, lOs. per 1000. John Corbett and Jesse 
Root, appeared and undertook to build the mill, and 
a committee was thereupon appointed to lay out 
the land. The mill was to be finished by the first 



Annals of Keene. 9 

A^y of July, 1736. Under date of May, 1735, ap- 
pears a record of the expense of laying out the 
second division of lots. The surveyor was allowed 
4.J shillinjxs, (70 cts ) four others were aUowed 12 
tshiliings and two others 10 shillings per day. 

173C. 

On the 30th day of September, a meeting of the 
proprietors was 0{)ened, according to appointment, 
at the house lot of Joseph Fisher, but was immedi- 
ately removed to the Ao/we of Nathan Blake. This 
house was probably the first erected in the town- 
ship. A committee was appointed " to agree with 
a man to build a great mill," and they were author- 
ized to offer " not exceeding forty pounds encour- 
agement therefor." The proprietors also voted to 
build a meeting-house, at the south end of the town 
street, at the place appointed by the General Court's 
committee, (near where Mr. Carpenter's house now 
stands) to be forty feet long, twenty ttet stud, and 
thirty-five feet wide, and to lay boards for the low- 
er floor — the house to be finished by the 2bth daj 
of June, 1737. 

At the same meeting, a vote w?s passed to widen 
the main street, which was originally but four rods 
wide. It provided that, if the proprietors of the 
house lots, on the west side of the street, would 
surrender four rods in depth, on the end of their 
lots adjoining the street, they should have it made 
up in quantity, in the rear. This proposition w^as 
acceded to ; and to this measure the village is in- 
debted for its broad and elegant main street. 

No person had hitherto attempted to remain 
through the winter on the township. Those who 
came in the summer to clear their lands, brought 
their provisions with them, and erected temporary 
huts to shelter them from the weather. In the 
summer of 1736, at least one house was erected ; 
and three persons, Nathan lilake, Seth Heaton and 
2 



10 Annals of Keene. 

William Sraeed, the two first trorii Wrentham and 
the last from Deerfielcl, made pre{)arations to pass 
the winter in the wildertiess. Their house was at 
the lower end ol the street. Blake had a pair of 
oxen and a horse, and Heaton a horse Fw \he 
support of these, they collected glass in tfie opi ii 
spots; and in the first part ot the winter, they em- 
ployed them in drawing logs to the saw-mill, which 
had just been completed. Blake's horse lell 
througii the ice of Beaver brook and was drowned. 
In the beginning of February, their own [)rovisions 
were exhausted, and to obtain a supfily of meal, 
Heaton was despatclied to Noithfieid. I'liere 
were a few families at Winchester, but none able to 
furmsli what was wanted. Heaton procured a 
quantity of meal ; but before he left .Northiield, the 
snow began to fall, and wh( n, on his return, he ar- 
rived at Winchester, it was uncommonly deep, and 
covered by a sharp crust. He was told " that lie 
might as well expect to die in Northfield and rise 
a;:ain in Upper Ashuelot, as ride thitii^r on horse- 
back." Recollectinir the friends he had left there, 
he nevertheless determined to make ttie attempt, 
but had proi-eeded but a short distance wnen he 
found that it would be impossible to succeed. He 
then returned, and directed his cour'^e to^wards 
Wrentham. Blake and Smeed, hearing nothing; 
from Heaton, gave the oxen free access 'o the ha}, 
left Ashuelot, and on snow shoes proceeded either 
to Deerneld or Wrentham. Anxious tor their ox- 
en, tliey returned early in the spring. 1 hey tound 
them near the Branch, south-east of Carpenter's, 
much emaciated, b\jt feeding upon twigs and such 
grass as was bare. The oxen recognised their 
owner, and exhibited such pleasure at the meeting 
as drew tears from iiis e)es. 

17.37. 
At a meeting of the proprietors, held IVTay 12, 
they voted to assess sixtj pounds ou the propria- 



*.innals of Keene, ] 1 

tor<! of the hon^e-lots, for the purpose of hiring; a 
gcspel minister, and cliose a committee to au;ree 
■with so'iie meet person to preach tiie ijospel 
among; tnem. '1 his meeting was atljourned, to be 
held at the meeting;-house place, on tlie "iOtli of 
IVlny. On the day appointed, it was there opened, 
but was immediately removed to the interval hind, 
and there a vote was passed, that another division 
of meadow land should be made. A committee 
was also chosen to '' represent this propriety in ap- 
ply Ingj to, and receiving; of the Honourable the 
General Court's committee, for this townsnip, the 
motjey 2;ranted to said proprietors when they shall 
have the frame of a meetnig;-house raised, and forty 
proprietors settled on the spot.'' 

'I'he next meeting; was held at the nieeting;-house 
frame^ June ;J0. Jeremiah Hall was recompensed 
for his services in searching; for, and laying out, a 
road to Townsend, and two others were added to 
the committee appointed to apply to the G«neral 
Court's committee " for the one iuindred pounds." 
mentioned in the proceeding;s of the last raeetinj?. 
It was also voted, " that no meeting; of the proprie- 
tors be held, for the future, but at this place, so lons^ 
as there shall be seven proprietors inhabiting here." 

At a meeting: held October 'iti, a vote was passed, 
that " the ivorthy Mr. Jacob Bacon should draw for 
the second division of meadow land, for tlie whole 
propriety." This is the first time that the name of 
Mr. Bacon, who was the first settled minister of the 
town, is mentioned in the records. 

At the same meeting, a vote was passed, to lay 
out cue hiridred acres of upland to each house-lot 
or right. The proprietors were to draw lots for 
choice, and he who ilri^w No. 1, was to make his 
pitch by a certain day ; and those who drew the 
successive numbers on successive days, excludino- 
Sundays, thus " giving every man his day." Each 
lot was surveyed by a coaimittee, in such plan and 



Ifi Annals of Keene* 

in such shape as the proprietor drawing it directed^ 
Some of the phins recorded in the proprietors' re- 
cords, (xh;bit figures which Euclid never imagined, 
and probably could not measure. Common land 
was left in every part of the township, in j)ieces of 
all sizes and shapes. In this manner, great confu- 
sion in lines was introduced, by which the owners 
of real estate are yet perples.ed and embarrassed. 

1738. 

On the 7th February, Jacob Bacon, A. M. was 
chosen proprietors' Clerk and Treasurer. A vote 
^vas passed, raising 240 pounds to support the 
preaching of the gospel, and other necessary char- 
ges, and a committee appointed to provide preach- 
ing. A committee was also appointed " to procure 
an anvil, bellows, vice, sledge hammer and tongs, 
fit for the work of a blacksmith, and to let the same 
to a blacksmith, as long as he swall use and improve 
them in the proprietors' business, by faithfully do- 
ing their work, at their request, before any other 
business or work, for any other person or persons 
whatsot ver." 

At a meeting of the proprietors, held at the meet- 
ing; house in the township. May I, the proprietors 
proceeded to the choice of a suitable person to set- 
tle in the ministry, and Mr. Jacob Bacon was unan- 
imously chosen. A vote was also passed, offering 
Mr. Bacon, as a settlement, (50 pounds, (in ')ills of 
credit of tiie old tenor,) provided he accept the 
call of the proprietors. B} another vote, he was 
offered a yearly salary ot 13o pounds (old tenor) 
for ten years, with an addition of ten pounds year- 
ly afterwards, so long as he continued the minister 
of the place, and a committee was appointed to lay 
these proposals before him. 

I he proposals were accordingly laid before him 
by a letter from the committee. On the 5th of Au- 
gust, Mr. Bacon, by letter, accepted the call on 
condition tluit the town would furnish hioi " a vear- 
ly supply of fire wood, at his door." 



J^nnals of Keene. 13 

At a Tneetinf]^, held Oct. '2, the proprietors voted 
^' to ydd ten pounds to Mr. Bacon's sukiry, at the 
end ot" ten years alter his ^ettlin«»; anioni*; them, and 
thereby raise his sahiry to 150 pounds, money of 
the present currency; and to find him so mucli 
good fire wood as he shall need, ready drawn to 
his door." 

Although the whites were, at this time, at peace 
■with the Indians, yet, deemina; it not prudent to 
remain \\Jthoutsome means of defence, the propri- 
etors, at this meetinji;, voted, that they would finish 
the fort, which was already be^un, and that every 
one that shoiild work, or had worked, at said foit, 
should brino in his account to the surveyor of hiiih- 
ways, and should be allowed therefor, ou his high- 
way tax bill. This fort was situated on a small em- 
inence, a few rods north of the house of Dr. Ad- 
ams. When completed, it was about 90 feet 
S(juare ; there were two ovens, and two wells in 
the enclosure. It was built of hewn lo<is In the 
interior, next to the walls, were twenty barracks, 
each having one room. On the outside, it was 
two stories high, in the inside, but one. the roof over 
the barracks inclining inwards, (n the space above 
the barracks, were loop-holes to fire trom with mus- 
kets. There were two watch houses, one at the 
south-east corner, and one on the western side, each 
elected on four high posts set upright in the earth. 
And for greater safety, the whole was surrounded 
by pickets. 

On the IHth of October, a church was gathered, 
and Mr. Bacon ordained, the churches represented 
being those of Wrentham, Sunderland, Northfield 
and Med way. 

December 4, the proprietors voted, " to finish the 
meetinij house, on the outside, workman-like, viz. 
to cover it with good sawed clapboards, well plan- 
ed, good window frames well glazed, and handsome- 



14 dnnals of Keene. 

]y to case the doors ; and so far to finish the inside 
as to lay \'hv loner fioor and build tlie body ot the 
seats, tlie pulpit, one pew, the table and deacon's 
seat, all completely, workman-like." 

About this tnnr, John Andrews came from Box- 
ford to settle in Upper As^luelot. He sent back 
Epliraim Dortnan and Joseph Ellis, with a team of 
ei2;lit oxen and a horse, to bring up his turuiture. 
Tne route they came, which was pro[)ably then the 
best, il not the only one, led throuijh Concord, 
Worcester, Brookfield, Belchertown, Hadley, Hat- 
field, Deerfield, Northfield. Winchester, Swanzey, 
and on the bank of the Ashuelot to the house lots. 
When tiiey passed through Swanzey, it rained 
hard, and they did not reach the station until night. 
As it continued to rain, was very dark, and as tlie 
water, which already covered the mjeadows, rose 
rapidly, they, apprehensive of being drowned, un- 
yoked their oxen, chained their cart to a tree, and 
hastened to the settlement, then a mile distant. As 
soon as day light appeared, the next morning, a 
boat was despatched in search of the cattle and 
furniture. When passing over Bullard's island, a 
man cru'd to them tor help. It was Mark Ferry, 
the hermit. Wearied with the noise and bustle of 
the settlement, lie had retired to a cave, which he 
had dug into the bank of the river, where he c n- 
stantly resided. Ttie water had now driven him 
from his dwelling, and compelled him to seek re- 
fuge on a stump, where he then sat, with a calf in 
his arms, over which he had drawn a shirt. The 
boatman answered, '' we must take care of the neat 
cattle first,"' and passed on. Tliey soon came to 
tie cart which was .ifloat. Proceeding further, and 
guided by the sound of the bells, which the cattle 
as u'^ual wore, they found them on several little 
hillocks, some with only their heads out of water. 
They fon ed them into the water, and guide<l them, 
swimming, to highland, where they lett tliem untd 



Mnnah of Keene. 15 

the flood subsided. Hearing cries for help belov/ 
them, they proceeded to (Jrisseu's house, iii tiie 
bjriiers of Swanze}, to the chaiuber and to the top 
of which, the taniily had been driven. These, they 
took off, and, on their return home, took Ferry and 
bis ealt into the canoe. This, uiiich was known 
by the name of Andrews' flood, was the hi!i;hest 
e^er known in the township. Tne water came 
within a few feet of tlie street, north of Capt. 
lilaKe's okl house. 

Mr. Andrews was the father of ten children, nine 
of whom he brought with liim. Between Sep- 
tember, 1 711, and September, 1715, every one of 
tiie nine died of tlie throat <.hsteni[)er, and he then 
returned disconsolate to his former residence. 

i;40. 

January 7, a meeting of the proprietors was held. 
In tlie warrant calHng it, an article was inseited, 
*' To make such grant or grants of land, to such 
person or persons as they shab think deserve the 
same, for hazarding their lives and estate bj' living 
here to bring forward the settling of the place.'" 
Upon this article, the following vote was passed. 
"Which probably gives the names of nearly all the 
men then residing in the township, and the number 
of dwellings erected. " Voted, to grant ten acres 
of upland to eacli of the persons hereafter named, 
viz. Jacob Bacon, clerk. Josiah Fisher, Joseph Fish- 
er, Nathan Blake, VVilliam Smeed, Scth Heaton, 
Joseph Ellis, Ebenezer x\im:^, Joseph Guild, Joseph 
Richardson, Isaac Clark, Edward Dale, Jeremiah 
HaII, Ebenez(M' Force, Daniel Ill^vs, Amos Foster. 
Elunezer Day, Beriah Maccaiicy, Jabez Hili,Obed 
Blake, Jeremiah Hall, jr. David Nirns, Timothy 
Piiffrr, El)«*nez T Daniels, NatlntJ Fairbanks, John 
Bulhird^ David Foster, Solomon Richardson' Abner 
Ellis, BtMijaTnin Guild, Asa Richardson,*" Ebenezer 
Hi!l, vSaMUicl Fisher, Ephraim Dornian, Timothy 
Sparliawk. Jonathan Underwood, John Andrews, 



iG ^^nnals of Keem. 

Samuel Smith, Samuel Daniels, (39) anrl to such 
other persons, having an interest here, who, from 
the first of next March, to March l742, shall make 
up the quantity or space of two years in living 
here, and build a legal dwelling house, to the num- 
ber of sixty, including thjse before mentioned." 

A run»or of war having reached the township, 
the proprietors, February 25, voted that they would 
build another fort, whenever seven of the propri- 
etors should request it. It is no krjown, that this 
fort was ever built They also voted that there 
should be allowed, for every man who should work 
upon the forts, ei^ht shiUings, and for every pair of 
oxen, four shillings, per day. 

1 he long and spirited contest, between the prov- 
inces of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire, res- 
pecting the divisional line between them, had been 
carried before the King in council, and in i740, a 
decision was made, that from a point three miles 
north of Pawtucket falls, the line should run due 
west until it reached his majesty's other govern- 
ments. This left Upper Ashuelot far within the 
boundaries of New Hampshire. Upon this sub- 
ject, the proprietors, on the 3d day of October, 
held a meeting, and the following proceedings ap- 
pear upon their records. 

»' The proprietors being informed that, by the 
determination of his majesty in council respecting 
the controverted hounds between the province of 
the Massachusetts and New Hampshire, they are 
excluded from the province of the Massachusetts 
Bay, to which they always supposed themselves to 
belong. 

" Therefore, unanimously voted, that a petition be 
presented to the King's most excellent majesty, set- 
ting forth our distrest estate, and praying we may 
be annexed to the said Massachusetts province. 

" Also unanimously voted, that Thomas Hutchin- 
*?on, Esq. be empowered to present the said peti- 



Annals of Keene, 17 

tion to his majesty, and to appear and fully to act 
for and in behalf of this town, respecting the sub- 
ject matter of said petition, according to his best 
discretion." 

Mr. Hutchinson had previously been appointed 
the agent of Massacliusetts,to procure an alteration 
of the order in Council. He made a voyage to 
England, but failed to accomplish the object of his 
aiiency. It is remarkable that, in his history of 
Massachusetts, he makes no mention of his ap- 
pointment. 

1741. 

At a meeting, held September 7th, the proprie- 
tors voted, '* that the meeting-house be removed 
from the place where it now stands, to the most 
convenient place on the hill, over against the house 
of Mr. Isaac Clark." This hill^ which has entirely 
disappeared, was a conical eminence in the street, 
one or two rods south of the old Ralston tavern. 
The meeting-house was accordingly removed thith- 
er, and was placed near the centre of the street, 
the travelled path being east of it. 

At tlie same meeting, it was voted, " that if the 
collectors shall be obliged to go through a course 
of law, to recover their collections, and the Massa- 
chusetts law, by which we are, or have been sup- 
ported, should fail, they should be remunerated for 
their expenses, from the proprietors' treasury." 

1742. 

July 27, the proprietors voted, that, " whereas 
there was a vote passed by this propriety, Decem- 
ber 4, '738, to glaze the meeting-house, and set the 
glass in lead, and to cover the outside with sawed 
clapboards, we do now, having thought sedately up- 
on it, agree, and vote, to set the glass in wood, and 
to cover the outside with shingles, for the following 
reasons : I, because we judge it stronger ; and 2, 
because we can do it at less expense of money, 
3 



18 Jnnals of Keem. 

V hich is no small article, not easy to be obtained 
b} us, at this day. And, whereas the proprietors 
agreed, with the first committee, to make the doors 
plain, we now ac^ree to have them done otherwise, 
even framed, or pannel doors, and the north door 
to be a doubie tolding; door, and that the committee 
ati» ee with a man to do it well, and decently, as be- 
comes such a house." 

1744. 

January 16, a vote was passed, allowing Jeremi- 
ah Hail eijiht pounds, old tenor, " tor getting that 
100 pounds, at Boston, ot Col. Dudley." This was 
probably the sum, which the (General Court of Mas- 
sichusetts had directed should be paid to tlie pro- 
prietors, on the erection of a meeting-house. 

In March, of this year, war was declared by 
Great-Britain, against France and Spain, which, 
w as soon followed by a war between the colonists 
and liulians. The dread of savage incursions, in- 
creased the labors and distresses of the frontier 
settlements. I he attention of the whites was di- 
verted from the cultivation of their lands, to the de- 
fence, and protection, of themselves and families. 
They dared not perform their usual labors in the 
field, n(U' even go far from their forts, without car- 
rying arms, and being accompanied by a guanl ; 
and they lived in peipetuai apprehension of a sud- 
den attack. 

Upper Ashuelot was also visited by a distressing 
sickness. Between August 1744, and October 
J7 45, agreat number died in the township, most 
of them of the throat distemper. 

1745. 

At a meeting, held February 5, the proprietors 
voted, " that the support granted to the Rev. Mr. 
Bacon, for the year I 41, being l/)4 pounds, old 
tenor, (£e -50 for salary, and £'2f for fire wood) and 
which, by reason of war and sickness, was neglect- 



Annals of Keene. 1§ 

ed, and not assessed, be brou<z;ht into tlie assess- 
ment of tills year." 

In the warrant, callins; this meeting, an article 
W^s inserted, " to see il tlie proprietors vvill seek 
all) further protection, iti case the war contniues ; 
and if so, to agree upon some method how they will 
do it." The pioprietors " voted, not to act upon 
this article." 

On the lOth of July, deacon Josiah Fisher was 
killed, as he was driving his cow to pasture. The 
road leading up the river, then left the main street, 
b}^ Mr. Samson's tan yard, led along the margin of 
the meadow, back of his house, crossed West street 
a few rods west of Aaron llalPs house, and contin- 
ued up the river, near the adjoining low land, until 
it came upon the route of the present tvirnpike 
above deacon Wdder's house, now occupied as a 
tavern. Fisher was found dead, and scalped, in the 
road, near where Mr. Samson^s back house stands ; 
and it w^as supposed that the Indian who sliot hitn, 
was concealed behind a log, which then lay within 
the present limits of Mr. Samson's garden. lie 
had a brass slug in his wrist, which, at tiie time, v, as 
conje'^tured to have been cut from a ^^ arming pan, 
that had lately been lost by one of the inhabitants. 

1746. 

March 10. the proprietors agreed to raise the sum 
of forty pounds, lawful montn* of New-En<j:!and, 
(Sl.'5i, 3:^) or one Inr.dred ^nd sixty pounds, old 
tenor, for the Rev. Mr. Bacon's support the pres- 
ent year. From this vote, it a})pears that, at this 
time, old tenor, in comparison with lawful money, 
was as four to one. 

Here occurs a chasm in the proprietors records, 
which the following relation of events will sulii- 
ciently account for. 

In the early part of the year, 17^6, the General 
Ccurt of Massachusetts sent a j^artv of men to 
Canada, lor what purpose, is not now recoliected. 



20 Jlmials of Keene. 

ami perhaps was not generally known. On their 
return, they passed through Upper Ashuelot. On 
arming in sight of the settlement, they fired their 
guns. This, of course, alarmed the inliabitants, 
and all who were out, and several were in tr-e 
woods making sugar, hastened home. From some 
cause or other, suspicion was entertained, that a 
party of Indians had followed the returning whites ; 
and for ;several days the settlers were more vigil- 
art, and more circumspect in their movements ; 
seldom leaving the fort, except to look after their 
cattle, which were in the barns, and at the stacks, 
in the vicinit}^ 

Early in the morning of the 23d of April, 
Ephraim Dorman left the fort to search for his cow. 
He went northwardly, along the borders of what 
was then a hideous and almost impervious swamp, 
]}ing east of the fort, until he arrived near to the 
place where the turnpike now is. Looking into 
the swamp, he perceived several Indians lurking 
in the bushes. He immediately gave the alarm, 
by crying, " Indians ! Indians !" and ran towards 
the fort. Two, who were concealed in the bushes, 
between him and the fort, sprang forward, aimed 
their pieces at him, and fired, but neither hit him. 
They then, throwing away their arms, advanced to- 
wards him, one he knocked down by a blow, which 
deprived him of his senses ; the other he seized, 
and being a strong man, and able wrestler, tried his 
strength, and skill, in his favorite mode of " trip 
and twitch." He tore his antagonist's blanket from 
his shoulders, leaving him nearly naked. He then 
seized him by the arms and body, but as he was 
painted and greased, he slipped from his grasp. 
After a short struggle, Dorn)an quitted him, ran 
towards the fort and reached it in safety. 

When the alarm was given, the greater part of 
the inhabitants were in the fort ; but some had just 
left It, to attend to their cattle. Capt. Simons, the 



dnnals of Keene. 21 

commander, as ^vas the custom cveiy morpinoj f)e- 
fore |)ru)frs, was readinii a char»ttT in tiie bihlo. 
lie immediatel} exclaimed, " rush out, and assist 
those who arc cut to L':et in." Most of the men 
immediately rusljcd out, and each ran w here !as 
interest or aflections led him; the remainder cnose 
posiiions in the tort, irom w Inch thej could the on 
the enemy. 

1 liose who were out, and within hearing, instant- 
ly started ior the lort ; and the ituiians. from every 
direction, rushed into the slrett, hliiii; the air with 
their usual horrid }eil. Mrs. >j'Keni:N hai! iione 
to a barn, near wliere Miss Fiske's house now 
stands, to milk her cow-. She was a2:ed and corpu- 
lent, and could only walk slowly. When she was 
w ithin a few rods of tiie fort, a naked Indian, prob- 
ably the one with whom Dorman had been w'?est- 
linjj;, darted from the bushes, on the east side ot the 
street, ran up to her, stabbed lier in the back, and 
crossed to the other side. Slie continued walkinij;, 
in the same steady f)ace as before, untd she had 
nearly reached the gate of the fort, w hen the blood 
gushed from her mouth, and she fell and expired. 
John Bullard was at his barn, below Dr. Adams' ; 
he ran towards the fort, but the instant he arrived 
at the iiate, he received a shot in his back. He 
fell, was carried ii', and expired in a few hours. 
]VIrs. Clark was at a barn, near the Tochi tiouse, 
about 50 rods liistant. Leaving it, she espied an 
Indian near her, w ho threw away his gun, and ad- 
vanced to make her prison -r. She g.ithere<l her 
clothes around her waist, and started for the f;srt. 
The Indian pursued ; the woman, animated by- 
cheers from her friends, outran her pursuer, w ho 
skulked back for his gun. Nathan Biake was at 
his barn, near where his son's house now stands. 
Hearing thecry of Indians, and presumimihis bnrn 
would be burnt, he determined that his cnttle 
should not be burnt with it. Throwing open his 



22 Annals of Keene. 

stable door, be let tbem loose, and presuminp: his 
retreat to the fort was cutoff, went out at a back 
door, intetiding to place himself in ambush at the 
only place where the river could be crossed. He 
had gone but a few steps, when he was hailed bv a 
party of Indians, concealed m a shop between him 
and the street. Looking back, he perceived sev- 
eral guns pointed at him, and at this instant several 
Indians started up from their places of cnuceal- 
ment near him, upon which, feeling; himself in their 
power, he gave himself up. They sliook hands 
w ith him, and to the remark he made, that he had 
not yet breakfasted, they smiling replied, that " it 
must be a poor Englishman, who could not go to 
Canada without his breakfast." Passing a cord 
around his arms above the elbows, and fastening 
close to his body, tliey gave him to the care of one 
of the j)arty, who conducted him to the woods. 

The number of Indians, belonging to the party, 
was supposed to be about jOO. I hey rame near 
the fort, on every side, and fired whenever they 
supposed liieir shot would be effectual. They, iiow- 
ever, neither killed nor wounded any one. The 
whites fired whenever an Indian presented himself, 
and several of them were seen to tall. Before noon, 
the savages ceased firing, but they remained sever- 
al da\s in the vicinity. The guns first fired were 
heard at the fort in Swanzey, the commander of 
which imme 'lately sent an express to Winchester, 
with information that the Indians had made an at- 
tack upon Upper Ashuelot. From Winchester 
an express was sent to the next post, and so on 
from ])Ost to post to Northampton,where Col. Pome- 
roy commanded. Collecting all the troops, and mi- 
litia there, and pressing all the horses in the place, 
he instantly, at their h ead, set out for Upper Ash- 
uelot, and on his way added to his number all the 
disnosable force in the intermediate settlements. 
In little more than 48 houris from the time the ex- 



Annals of Keene. 23 

press started frooi Swanzey, he, wilh 400 or 500 
uit'ii, arrived al Upper Asliutlot, tlje distance down 
and back, being, at least, nniety niiles. The arri- 
val, so soon, ot this relief, was as unexpecteil, as it 
was gratit>in^ to the seitiers. 1 he next morning, 
Ponieroy sent out his men to scour the woods in 
starch of Blake. - While these were absent, the 
Indians agaiti shewed themselves on the meadow, 
Southeast of the fort, where they killed a iiumber 
oi cattle. To recall the troops, an alarm was fired, 
but uas not heard. In the afternoon, they return- 
ed unsuccesstui, and that evening Mr. Bullard, and 
IVirs M 'Kenny were buried. Ihe next morning, 
they found the track of the Indians, and followed 
it, until they came to he place of their encamp- 
ment at night i his was east of Buck hill, TiOt far 
from the present residence of Capt. C'hapman. It 
appearing that they dispersed, when departing 
fron» this place, they were pursued no farther. 
Col. Pomeroy, on his way back to the fort, found 
that a house, beloni^ing to iVlr. Heaton, and stand- 
ing near the place where his son's house now stands, 
ha<l been burnt. A'liong the ashes, they discover- 
ed human bones, and the leg of an Indian uncon- 
sumed As it is known to have been the custom 
of the Ir-.dians to take t!ie most eflfectual means 
in their power, to conceal the amount of their loss, 
they had doubtless placed in this house, before 
thev set it on tire, tiie bodies of such of their par- 
ty as had been killed, which they had not other- 
wise concealed. The number, as near as could be 
asc,*rtained, was nine, and one or two were burnt 
in the barn of IVIr. Blake. 

The next day, enquiry was made for Mark Fer- 
ry, the hermit. As he did not reside among them, 
and had never performed the duties of relation, 
friend or cotnpanion to any of the settlers, they 
felt little solicitude for his fate ; but Col. Pomeroy 
offering to send a party of men, they agreed to 



24 Annals of Keene. 

send a pilot to tlie place where they supposed he 
niisht be iouiid. This was Ferry oieadow, on the 
stream called Ferry brook, within the present lim- 
its of SuUivan, whither he had repaired, as to a 
plar e of safety, when driven by the flood from his 
cave on Bui lard's island. They found his horse 
confined under the shelter of the root of a fallen 
tree, and, looking further, espied him perched high 
upon the limb of a laige tree, mending his clothes. 
His personal appearance indicated that he had not 
received the benefit of shaving, nor ablution, for 
months. They compelled him to descend, brought 
him to the fort, led him to the officers' quarters, 
and, with mock formality, introduced him to all the 
officers, and gentlemen of the party. 

Apprehending no farther danger to the settlers, 
Col. Pomeroy and his men returned to their homes. 

In the early part of May, the same, or another 
party of Indians, liovered about the settlement, 
watching for an opportunity to make prisoners, and 
to plunder. For several successive nights, the 
watch imagined that they heard some person walk- 
ing around the fort. When it came to the turn of 
young M'Kenny, whose mother had been killed, 
to watch, he declared he should fire, on hearing the 
least noise without the fort. In the dead of night, 
he thought he heard some person at the picket 
gate, endeavoring to ascertain its strength. Hav- 
ing loaded his gun, as was usual among fhe first 
settlers of the country, with two balls and several 
buck shot, he fired through the gate, which was 
made of thin boards. In the morning blood w^s 
discovered on the spot, and also a number of beads, 
supposed to have been cut, by the shot, from the 
wampum of the Indian. 

The inhabitants n^mained in the fort until March, 
or April, 7 47. About this time, they passed an 
informal vote, releasing Mr. Bacon, their minister, 
frpm all his obligations to tnem, and resolved to 



Annals of Keene. 25 

abandon the settlement, which resolution was im- 
Diediately executed. JSoon after, a paity of In- 
dians visited the place, and burnt all the buildings, 
except the mill on Beaver brook, and the house in 
which the miller had resided. 

It has been already mentioned, that Mr. Blake, 
wheti captured, was pinioned, and conducted by an 
Indian into the woods. Alter travelling about two 
miles, they came to a sn»all stony brock. The 
Indian stooped to drink, and as Blake's hands were 
not confined, he thouiijht he could easily take up a 
stone, and beat out his brains. He silently prayed 
for direction ; and his next thought was, that he 
should always regret that he had killed an Indian 
in that situation, and he refrained. 

No particulars of his journey to Canada have 
been obtained, except that he passed by Charles- 
town. At Montreal, he, with another prisoner of 
the name of Warren, was compelled to run the 
gauntlet Warren, receiving a blow in the face, 
knocked down the Indian who gave it ; upon 
which, lie was assaulted b}- several, who beat Jiim 
unmercifully, making him a cripple lor life. Blake, 
exhibiting more patience and fortitude, received no 
considerable injury. He m as then conducted to 
Quebec, and thence to an Indian village, several 
miles north of that place, called Ccnissadawga. 
He was a strong, athletic man, and possessed ma- 
ny qnalities, which procured him the respect of the 
savages. He could run v^ith great speed, and in 
all the trials to which he was put, and they were 
many and severe, he beat every antagonist. 

Not long after his arrival at the village, the tribe 
lost a chief by sickness. As soon as his decease 
was made known, the women repaired to his wig- 
wam, and with tears, sobs, and clamorous lamenta- 
tions, mourned his death. The funeral ceretuonies 
performed, the men sought Blake, dressed him in 
4 



26 Annals of Keene. 

the Indian costume, and invested him with all the 
antiiont} and privileges of the deceased, as one of 
the cidifs of the tribe, and as husband of the wid- 
o V. In the fam.!} to vvliich he now stood in the 
rt'laiion of fitlier, there were, as he has often re- 
marked, several dau«j|iters of uncommon beauty. 

Yet, notwithstanchng; this good fortune, he still 
had diificulties to encounter. The tribe was divid- 
ed into \\\o parlies, his friends and his enemies. 
The former consisted of the great mass of tne 
tribe, who respected him for qualities, to which, 
they had not equal preterisions ; the latter, of tiiose 
who were envious ol his success, and had beea 
worsted in their contests with him. These, to 
humble his pride, sent far into the northern wilder- 
ness, and procured a celebrated Indian runner, to 
run against him. At the time assigned, the whole 
tribe assembled to witness the race ; and a French- 
n)an, from Quebec, happened to be present. Per- 
ceiving the excitement among them, he advised 
Blake to permit himself to be beaten, intimating 
that fatal consequences might ensue, if he did not. 
The race was run, and Blake, as advised by the 
Frenciunan, permitted his antagonist to reach the 
goal, a moment before he did. He persisted, how- 
e\ er, after his return trom captivity, in declaring 
that he njight have beaten hitn, if he had tried. 
The evei t of the race, restored harmony to the 
tril'e, and Bhdie was permitted to live in peace. 

But, rememberinij the family he had left, he felt 
anxious to return to his home. After much inter- 
cession, the tribe proposed, that, if he would build 
a house, like those of the Knglish, he should be 
permitted to go to Quebec. Presuming, that, when 
there, he could more easily obtain his liberty, he 
gladly aceeded to the proposition. With such-tools 
as the Indians possessed, he prepared the necessa- 
r; timber, ^plittins the boarrls fmn the tree, and 
sooii completed the task. He then went to Que- 



Annals of Ketone. 27 

bee, and gave himself up to the French. He had 
"been tlieie but a short time, wiitn hi> In lati uile 
came in a canoe to reclaim him. lie retvis(:(l to re- 
turn ; but she soliciting; anil even deuiandinii ii, lie 
declared to her, that, if he should be c mpelled to 
set out v.ith her, he would overturn the canoe, iind 
drown her ; upon which, she concluded to retura 
without him. In the tall, the French commandant 
gave Blake his election to pass the winter, as a la- 
borer, with a farmer, in the vicinity of Qa bee, or 
be confined in the common jjaol. He chose the 
latter, and had no reason to regret his ciioic e, as 
he had a comfortable room, and sullicient rations 
assigned him. He remained in confinement until 
spriniJj, when his liberation was procured in t.ie 
manner, which will now be related. 

Amonscthe numerous parties, wliich the love of 
war, and of adventure, brought upon the frontier 
seUlements, was one consisting of a small nnmber 
of Indians, commanded by lieutenant Pierre Kam- 
bout, a young Frenchman. In the autumn ot l'/-i7, 
this party penetrated the wilderness, as far as the 
southern bank of the Ashnelot, in Winchester, 
about two miles below the village. They then 
halted, at^d the commander, taking his guii, passed 
alone. over a neighboring hill, which descended ab- 
ruptly to the southward. While standing near a 
road, which led along the foot of tiic hill, he saw, 
and, at the same moment, was seen I)} asioul.con- 
sisting of Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Willard, of 
Northfield, and Dr. Hall, of Keene, who were tisen 
travelling this road, in a direction towards JNorth- 
field. Perceiving that he could not esca|)e, he, in 
French, asked for quarter. Not understandiiig l.'iin, 
Alexander fired, and he fell. On examination, ihey 
concluded his wound was mortal, to( k his arms, 
and presuming he had a party near him whii h 
would be drawn to the s[ ot, by the repoit of the 
musket, they hastened to Nortn field. The Indians 



28 jSnnals of Keene. 

repaired immediately to the spot, and findinsj their 
commandtT wounded, but yet alive, they removed 
hi in to the bank of the river, where he had left 
them. Supposins; his wound was mortal, ajid 
alarmed for their own safety, they then left him, 
and returned precipitately to Canada, informini^ Ins 
father, a wealthy old gentleman, who resided near 
Quebec, that his son had been killed by the Eng- 
lish. 

Rambout remained as he was left, until the next 
morninsj. Feeling his strength revive, he then at- 
tempted to rise, and, after several efforts, succeed- 
ed. Prompted by the lov^e of life, he then deter- 
mined to endeavor to reach some settlement, and 
give himself up. Wandering about, he at length 
came to the road leading to Northfield, then about 
five miles distant. This road he followed, and with 
much difficulty reached that place. The man 
whom he first saw, was Alexander, who had shot 
him, and to him he surrendered himself. Alexan- 
der immediately conveyed him to the hruse of Mr. 
Doolittle, who was then surgeon, physician, and 
clergyman, of the place, where he was carefully 
attended to, and his wound completely cured. He 
was an interesting young man, and, by his behav- 
ior, gained the res[)ect, and affection of the inhab- 
it-^nts. 

During the winter, he made a visit to Boston. 
He was very anxious to return to Canada ; and the 
relatives and friends of Samuel Allen, a young 
man, who had been captured, at Deerfield, in l7^(i, 
were desirous of procuring his release, in exchange 
for Rambout, Application was therefore made to 
the governor of Massachusetts, who consented to 
send a party, with a flag, to Canada, to negociate 
the exchange. Rambout also engaged, that some 
other Ejiglish prisoners should be released, in ex- 
change for liim. As he was an officei, considera- 
ble reliance was placed upon tins engagement ; and 



Aiinals of Keene, 29 

it was asreed that, should it be ratifietl by the ijov- 
erwoY ot Canada, tiiu otiier prisontr sliould be Mr. 
B'ake. 

The party consisted of John Hawks, Matthew 
EHsson, and John Taylor Hawks was ore of the 

{Droprietors, though not an inhabitant of Keene ; 
le commanded tort Myssachus'^tts, ncyr lioosac k, 
■wlien i< was taken, in t (3, and had just rctnriitd 
from captivity ; he was an active officer in all the 
L-dians wars of this period, and rose to tiie rank 
ol lieutenant colonel, in the war of i7:)0. 

Considering it possible that the French governor 
might refuse to iMtify the engagement of the lieu- 
t -ant, Mrs. Blake furnished Hawks with fimds to 
rt deem her husband. 1 he paiMy, accompanied by 
B Mubout, set out from Deerfseld, for Citnada, in 
February, l74tH. The season was inclement, and 
the snow was deep. 'I hey tra\ elled on snow 
shoes, and carried their provisions on their backs. 
A r;ight, the} encam])ed on the snow, in the In- 
di;:n mode, at;d oftetj, without shelter or covering. 
Tlieir route led up the Connecticut^toTJ'iarles- 
tow n ; thence up Black river, to the present tov> n 
of Ludlow ; thence over the highlands, in Mount 
lloily, to a branch oi Otter Creek ; thence down 
Otter Creek, about twenty four miles ; thence a 
westerly course, until they stru( k a stream, which 
they followed to its junction with Luke Champlain, 
opposite liconderoga; thence on the ice of tlic 
lake, by Crown-Point, to Canada. 

At Montreal, Rambout was delivered to the 
French commander, and search was made for 
yonng Allen, who was at lenoti, found among the 
Ii'dians ; and though he had resided with them 
only eighteen months, yet, unaccountable as it may 
appear, he had become strongly attached to their 
mode of life, displaced great aversion to returning 
ht>n!e, and even attempted to avoid his deliverers. 
"When brought into tne presence of Coi. Hawks, 



30 ^innah of Keene. 

he acIfnov.'ledc;e(i, with reluctance, that be rpeoojniz- 
ed him, though he was his uncle, and had been well 
known to him. at Deerfieid — nor wouki he con\etse 
in English. Various means were used to weaken 
}iis strange predilection, hut all wit? out effect, a..d 
Jus obstiuacj was only conquered by threats, aiid 
force. Nor did his Indian attachments cease in his 
old age ; and he often declared, that tlie Indian 
mode of life was tfie most haf)py. 

After obtainitJg Allen, Hawks, and his part}^ pro- 
ceeded to Quebec. On their v. ay, tliey stopped at 
the house of old Rambout, whose feehiigs niay be 
imagined, when he saw, standing before him, that 
son whom he believed to be dead. Unwilling to 
be delayed, Hawks promised to visit him again, on 
his return. Arriving at Quebec, he made applica- 
tion for the release of Blak •, according to the en- 
S"agement of Rambout. The governor refused, al- 
leging that the lieutenant had no authority to make 
such an engagement. Hawks persisted in urging 
his claim, as a matter of right. He also appealed 
to his feelings, as a man, representing to him the 
forlorn situation of Mrs. Blake, and the expecta- 
tions she had been permitted to indulge, and pray- 
ed that be might not be sent back to her, the mes- 
senger of disappointment. The governor still re- 
fusing, he declared that he could not return to her 
without her husband ; and requested to know what 
sum was required as his ransom, adding that he 
would endeavor to pay it. The governor, pausing 
a moment, replied, " take him, and keep your mon- 

Expressing his gratitude, Hawks hastened to the 
prison, and gave to Blake the glad tidings of his 
release. On their way to New-England, the party 
again stopped at the house of old Rambout. Tiie 
neighbors were invited ; a sumptuous feast was 
prepared; " wine," to use the languige of Blake, 
" was as plenty as water :" the evening, and the 



Jlnnals of Keene. 31 

^jiiiVit, were spent in dancing ; the Iiappy father and 
mot iter opening- the ball, and displaying all tlie 
liveliness of youth. Quebec, it should be remem- 
bered, had then been settled nearly a century and 
a half, and was far in advance of all the English 
colonies in refinement of manners. To the rough 
and sedate Knglishmen, who had seldom been out 
of the woods, the whole scene was novel, and ex- 
cited emotions, to which they had not been accus- 
tomed. 

Jlauks, and his party, then proceeded on their 
journey. Apprehending that the savages would 
pursue them, and attempt to release young Allen, 
^vdieh they had shew n a strong inclination to do, 
iuutenatit Rambout accompanied them a part ot 
tlie way. In the beginning of May, 1748, they ar- 
rived at their homes 

In October, « T4H, peace was declared between 
England and France. 'I he Indians, however, con- 
ti.iued their depredations until June, i749, and a 
treaty oi peace was not made with them, until Sep- 
ttmber of that }ear. 

On the restoration of peace, the settlers who had 
been diiven from their lands, by the war, made 
preparations to return. The exact time when 
Upper Asiiuelot was again ocrupied, l»as not been 
ascer ained. It was, probably, some time in 1750 j 
ceitainly as easly as 17'') I ; as it is within the re- 
collection of Tiioinas Wells, now living, who came 
to reside here in 1752, that eight or ten dwelling 
houses had then been erected. 

1753. 

On the 11 til of April, the proprietors, on 
application to Benning Wentworth, then governor 
oi New-Hampshire, obtained a charter, grantisig 
thenj the land embraced in the original limits of Up- 
per Ashuelot, and a small additional strip on the 
eastern side. The preat)d)le recites that, "• Wh.ereas 
sundry of our loving subjects, betore the settlement 



32 Jltinals of Keene. 

of the dividinc: line of our Province of Nevv-Hamp- 
shiie, a.id oiu- otht-r goveriinnMit of the Massicliu- 
settsBav, had by permission of our said government 
of iVlassachusetts Bay, bei^un a settlement of a tract 
of huid on Ashuelot river, and made sundry divis- 
ions of, and improvements upon, said tract, and 
there remained until the Indian war forced tht m 
off, and being desirous to make an immediate set- 
tlement upon the premises, and having petitioned 
our 2;overnor in council for ids majesty's grant )f 
the premises to be so made as might not subvert 
and destro} their former surveys;" therefore a grant 
is made to them of the said tract, they are consti- 
tuted a corporation by the name of Keene. and 
the inhabitants are declared entitled to all tiie priv- 
ileges, and immi'.nities, that other towns in the prov- 
ince, exercise and enjoy. A reservation is made of 
all white, arid other pine trees, fit tor masting the 
royal navy, and of a rent of one ear of Iiuhaa corn, 
annually, until l7b.^», and afterwards, of one shilling, 
proclamation money, for (very hundred acres. And 
Benjamin Bellows is authorized to call the first 
meeting of the proprietors, and inhabitants. 

The first meeting of the proprietors, under tiiis 
charter, was held at Ktene, on the first Wednes- 
day of May Votes were passed, granting to Benja- 
min Bellows 122 Spanish milled dollars, for his ser- 
vices and expenses, in obtaining the charter; and 
to Ephraim Dorman JJ dollars for goiiig to Ports- 
mouth — raising i22 pounds, old tenor, to procure 
preaching ; and granting to Theodore Atkinson, 
the secretary of the Province, three hundred acres 
of land. 

On the same day, a town meeting was held, and 
various town officers were chosen. 

The inhabitants immediately directed their at- 
tention to the concerns of religion. As a place for 
public worship, they erected a bmiding, on a green 
])lat, near the house of Aaron Appleton. It was 



Annals of Keeiie. 33 

built of slabs, the earth serving as a floor. And, 
with the inhabitants of Swarizey, they made a joint 
arranpienit nl for the settlement of a pastor. 

In the warrant, calHng a town meeting, to be held 
June 13, IS the following article : "to see if they 
(the freeholders, &c.) will make choice of the Rev. 
Mr. ('arpenter for our minister." From the expres- 
sions, here used, it is probable that the church had 
already acted on the suhject. At the meeting, iMr. 
Carpenter was chosen ; the sutn of •' fifty poudds, 
silver money, at six shillings and eight pence the 
ounce, or equivalent in our own province bills,'" 
was offered hisn as a settlement ; and the town en- 
gaged to find him, yearly, twenty cords of fire wood. 
A contract was subsequently made with Mr Car- 
penter, which was to continue in force three years, 
and, in w hich, it was stipulated that he should re- 
ceive, trom Keene, a salary of twenty-six pounds, 
lawful money. He also officiated as the minister of 
Swanzey. 

In December, the inhabitants voted, to build a 
Bieeting house, 45 feet lona;, and 35 wide ; and 
agreed to set it at " the crotch of the roads, so call- 
ed,one road leading up the river,and the other across 
the river to Ash swamp." This place must have 
been several rods west of Aaron Hall's house. 

1754. 

In Januar}^ of the next year, " in consideration 
of the unfitness of the ground, and the exposed- 
ness to fire, and to the enemy, in case of a war," 
they voted, to set the house " on the road that go- 
eth from the town street to the mills, on the high- 
est ground, between the causeway, by William 
Smeed's, and the Bridge, by the clay pits." Smeed 
lived where Dr. Twitchell now does, and the 
bridge w\is north of Col. Perry's store. 

In this year, the savages again committed acts of 
hostility. Sometime in the fail,an express arrived at 
5 



34 Annals of Keene. 

Keene, bringing information,that a partj'^ of the ene- 
my had appeared in the vicinity of Peuacook, (Con- 
cord,) where they had killed, and captured, several 
w^iites. This was in the afternoon. The inhabit- 
ants immediately assembled, and appointed sever- 
al persons to keep guard, through the niglit, direct- 
ing them to walk, continually, from the house of 
David Nims, (near Lewis Page's house, in prison 
street,) to the meadow gate, (near Mr. Carpen- 
ter's ;) and agreed immediately to complete the 
fort, the re-building of which had already been com- 
menced. The next day every one able to labor, 
went to work upon the fort, and soon prepared it 
for the reception of the settlers. 

1755. 
When traces of Indians were discovered, near 
any of the frontier posts, it was the custom to fire, 
as an alarm to all within hearing, three guns in reg- 
ular and quick succession. If heard at any of the 
posts, it was answered in the same manner ; if not 
answered,the alarm was repeated. In June,the peo- 
ple at Westmoreland, discovering traces of Indians, 
fired an alarm, which was heard at Keene. A body 
of men was immediately sent to their relief; but 
they returned without discovering the enemy. That 
they nere lurking in the vicinit}', and that they fol- 
lowed home the party irom Keene, is probable, as, 
the next day, they captured Benjamin Twitchell. 
He had been to Ash swamp ; on his return^ he took 
with him a tub, which, it is supposed, he carried 
upon his head. This tub Avas iifterwards found, on 
the east bank of the river, near where the mills now 
stand ; and there the Indians probably seized him. 
He was conducted up the river ; in the meadows, 
west and north of deacon Wijder's, the Indians kill- 
ed several oxen, a horse and f-olt. The colt \\as 
cut up, an<^. the best pieces of meat carried off. In 
this meadow, they left a bow, made of lever wood, 
and several arrows. They encamped, for the night, 



Annals of Keene. 35 

in IVrCurdy's meadow, in Surry, where four crotcli- 
ed sticks were discovered driven into the cjrouud, 
in such positions, as led to the belief, that to each 
was confined one of the limbs of the prisoner. 
The party ihen proceeded to Quebec, where Twit- 
chell met with Josiah Foster and his family, who 
were captured at Winchester. For the honor of 
Foster, the particulars of his capture should be 
recorded. Returnin^i; home, one evening, he tound 
his house in the possession of Inchans, who had 
captured his wife and children. He could have 
escaped, but he determined to £*ive himself up, 
that he might share their fate, and have an oppor- 
tunity to alleviiite their sufferings. He acconipan- 
ic(i them to Quebec, carrying his wife on his back, 
a great part of the way. There the\- remained 
until, being ransomed, they were sent, by water, 
to Boston. Twitchell was put on board the same 
vessel, but, being taken sick, he was set on shore, 
and died in a few days. 

A month or two afterwards, a party of Indians 
were discovered in the meadow, south of the town 
line, by the ])eGple of Swanzey. They, with four 
soldiers to guard them, were coming, in a body, 
and armed, to work in their north meadows. The 
soldiers who were in advance, heard a rustling in 
tlie bushes, and one, supposing it caus>ed by a deer, 
filed his musket at the spot. The Indians, suppos- 
ing they were discovered, rose, and lired at the sol- 
diers, who, frightened, ran to the quarter, now call- 
ed Scotland. J lie people, coming up, saw the In- 
dians, attacked them and drove them to the plain, 
west of the factory. An express was instantly 
seht to Keene ; and a party of 15 men, under Capt. 
IVietcalf, went out to meet them.- This party went 
first to the foot of the hill, beyond Mr. Heaton's, 
supposing the Indians would there cross the branch. 
Remaining there a short time, without discovering 
any Indians, a Mr. Howard proposed to go to an- 



36 Annals of Keene, 

other ford still farther up. Josiah French, a 
shrewd man, observed, " those who wish to meet 
with the Indians, had better stay here : I feel no 
desire to see them, and will go over the hill with 
Howard." It was agreed to go over the hill ; but 
no sooner had they reached the top of the nearest 
eminence, than they discovered nine Indians cross^ 
ing at the ford they had left. The^ lay in wait for 
them a tew hours, but did not see them afterwards. 
Returning to the fort, Howard receivt^d no mercy 
from the men, women and children within it. Sev- 
eral days afterwards, the men went, in a body, and 
armed, to hoe Mr. Day's corn, near Surr}^ and dis- 
covered that an old house, in that neighborhood, 
had been burnt ; it was supposed to have been set 
on fire by the same party of Indians. 

Afterwards, but in what year is not recollected, 
another, and the last party of Indians made a visit 
to Keene. The inhabitants had cleared and fenced 
a large common field consisting of about two hun- 
dred acres, laying southwardly of Mrs. I^anman's 
house. This field was used as a cow pasture, and 
the access to it was by a path which led southward- 
ly along the high ground east of the place where 
the turnpike and Baker's lane unite. When driv- 
ing their cows to this pasture, it was the custom of 
the inhabitants not to go in the path, for fear of a 
surprise, but on one or the other side of it. Early 
one morning, they came suddenly upon a party of 
Indians, concealed in thick bushes, and busily en- 
gaged in mending their mocasins. They instantly 
started up and escaped. It was afterwards ascer- 
tained that the leather, with which they were mend- 
ing their mocasins, had been stolen, the night be- 
fore, from a tannery at Walpole or Charlestown. 

1756. 

The terra for which Mr. Carpenter was settled 
having expired, the town October 5, 1756, voted 



Annals of Keene. 37 

" to carry on and maintain the worship and ordinan- 
ces ot God in unity with the people of Swanzey, 
in the manner we have lor tliree years past, for the 
space of one year to come." 

1760. 

A similar vote was annually past until 1760, when 
the town " voted not to join with the people of 
Swanzey in niaintainius and carrying on the wor- 
ship and ordinances of God." 

In the warrant calling for a town meetina: to be 
held the 3 1 St day of December, 1760, an article 
was inserted, to see if the town will give a geniie- 
nian a call in order to settle in the work of minis- 
try among us" The proceedings of t!)is meelins:, 
and also ot another meeting lull February iO, \ 761, 
are lost. But from the proceedings of a meeting 
held iVIarch 26, l7bl, it appears that the to.vn had 
given a call to the worthy ISir. Ctnieni S niner." 
His salary was fixed at thirty-five pounds sterling 
and his fire-wood, with an annual increase of one 
pound ten ^hilling'< sterling, until fifteen pounds 
should be added. Tiie amount of his settlement is 
not known. 

1761. 

In April, the town voted, " that the Rev. Mr. 
Sumner's salary be stated on commodities as they 
be now and so from year to } ear. Commodities as 
they be now : wlieat at ."35. 2 {--Id. sterling per hush- 
el ; pork at 3</. per pound ; beef at 2r/. per pound ; 
Indian corn at \s. Hrt. per bushel; rye at 2^ Qd. 
per bushel ; labour in thesummei at 25. per day." 
This was afterwanis rescinded upon the suggestion 
of Mr. Sumner, that the article of beef was stated 
above the market price. 

Mr. Sumner accepted the call, and the ordina- 
tion took place on the 1 1th of June. 

For several years from this period, but few in- 
teresting facts can be gleaned from written docu- 
ments, or Irom oral tradition. 



38 Jlnnals of Keene. 

Amos Foster, an inhabitant of the town died 
this year. In his will \\f bequeathed one half of 
his estate to the town. The value of tlie leii;acy 
is not known ; but in August the town voted that 
Mr. Sumner's settlt nient, and his salary for the first 
year, should be paid from this tund. 

In September, the town voted to build a house 
for sick soldiers, 

1762. 
Among the town officers chosen this year was a 
clerk of the market, and a deer reif. \V hither 
the former had any duties to perform is not known. 
It was the duty of the latter to enfosce the laws a- 
gainst killing deer in the spring. The first office 
was annually filled for the succeeding ten years, 
and the latter until 17o2. 

1764. 
At the annual meeting this year, the town voted 
six pounds sterling to defray the charges of a 
school. 

1765. 
By a vote ot the town, each man was to be allow- 
ed for labour on the highway, two shillings and six- 
pence (probably lawful money) per day, until the 
last of September, and afterwards, two shillings per 
day ; one shilling for a yoke of oxen, and six-pence 
for a cart. 

1766. 

The following votes are found on the records of 
this year. 

" Voted, that Benjamin Hall be agent to repre- 
sent the town in behalf of a shire town. 

" Voted, that the security for the money given 
to the town by Capt. JNathaniel Fairbanks, deceased, 
the interest of which was for the use of a school in 
this town, be delivered to the rare of the town trea- 
surer, and his successors in office for the time be- 
ins.' 



5» 



Annuls of Keene. 39 

1707. 
According to an enumeration made the 7th of 

October, t!ie number and description of inhabitants 

were 51s t'ollows : 

Unniarried (ueii from 16 to 60 51 

Manjt-d nun from J 6 to 60 66 

B'\ys from lb and under S4 

]M«'^n upwards ot 60 4 

Femal* s nr/married 146 

]\' (Tried women 68 

Widows 8 



Total, 427 
1768. 
Josiah Willard was chosen to represent the town 
in thfi Geaeral Assembly at Portsmouth. He was 
the first representative chosen. 

1770. 
The town was now first divided into school dis- 
tricts, being four in number. 

1771. 

This year, the state, which before consisted of 
but one county, was divided into five, and Keene 
was made one of the shire towns for the the coun- 
ty of Chesfiire. The Inferior Court held its first 
session here, in October, 1771, and the Superior 
Court, in September, 1772. 

1772. 

The inhabitants, having become dissatisfied with 
the Rev. Clement Sumner, he was this year dis- 
missed, in pursuance of a vote of the town, his own 
consent, and the result of an ecclesiastical council. 

1773. 

The following muster roll has been handed to 
the compiler, by a veteran of the revolution : 



40 Annals of Keene. 

A List of the Foot Company in Keene. 



Lieut. Benjamin Hall, 
Ensign, Miciiael Metcalf, 
Cieik, Simeon Clark, 
Serj. Elijah Blake, 
Serj. Thomas Baker, 
Serj. Isaac Esley, 
Serj. Jedidiah Carpenter, 
Corp. Dan Gnihi, 
Corp. Joseph Blake, 
Corp. Ahijah Metcalf, 
Benjamin Archer, 
Jonathan Arclier, 
Asael Blake, 
John Brown, 
Eli'<ha Hriggs, 
John Balch, 
Benjamin Balch, jr. 
Luther Braa;g, 
Samuel Bassett, 
John Burt, 
Natlian Blake, jr. 
Obadiah Blake, jr. 
Rial Blake, 
Naboth Bettison, 
Thomas Baker, jr. 
John Pray Blake, 
Cephas Clark, 
Seth Clark. 
Eliphalet Carpenter, 
Ebenczer Carpenter, 
Samuel Chapman, 
Silas Cook, 
Isaac Clark, 
Simeon Clark, jr. 
Jonas Clark, 
.lohn Day, jr. 
John Daniels, 
Reuben Daniels, 
John Dickson, 
Adington Daniels, 
Ebenezpi Day, jr. 
Jacob Day, 



James Dean, 
Timotiiy Crosfield, 
Joseph Etles, jr. 
Gideon Elles, jr. 
Simeoii Elles, 
Timothy Elles, 3d. 
William Elles, 
Caleb Elles. 
Stephen Estey, 
James Eady, 
Henry El'n's, 
Benjamin Elles, 
Benjamin Elles, jr, 
Joshua Elles, 
Jabez Fisher, 
Silas French, 
David Foster, jr. 
Peter Fiskin, 
Aaron Gray, jr. 
William Goodenow, 
John Grisigs, 
Joseph Gray, 
Samuel Hall, 
Jesse Hall, 
Peter Hubberf, 
Seth Heaton, jr. 
John Hougliton, 
Joseph Hills, 
Davis Howletf, 
Ziba Hall, 
Jonathan Healon, 
Luther Heaton, 
Nathaniel Kingsbury, 
Daniel Kin!;s;iury, 
Stephen Rarrabee, 
Daniel Lake, 
Ezra Metcalf, 
Jonathan Metcalf, 
Moses Marsh, 
Eli Metcalf. 
D.iuiel Metcalf, 
William Nelson, 



To Col. JOSIAH WILLARD. 

Keene, August 7, 1773. 



David Nims. jr, 
Ebenezer Nuton, 
Asael Nims, 
Eliakim Nims, 
Zadock Nims, 
Alpheus Nims, 
Joshua Osgood, 
Benjamin Osgood, jr. 
Amos Partrige, 
Jonathan Pond, 
Abiather Pond, 
Nathan Rugg, 
Josial) Richardson, 
Eleaser Sanger, 
Ahner Sanger, 
Robert Penser, 
Ji^reruiah Stiles, 
Richard Smith, 
John Swan, 
Jacob Town. 
Joseph Thacher, 
Abrfiham Wheeler, jr. 
Joseph Willson, 
William Woods, 
Oliver Wright, 
Jedifliah Wellman, 
David Willson, 
Daniel Willson, 
Thomas Wells, 
John White, 
James Wrii^ht, 
Zadock Wheeler, 
Walter Wheeler, 
Samuel Wadsworth, 
Ahijah Wilder, 
Jonathan W heeler, 
Thomas Wilder, 
Thomas Morse, 
F.praim Leonard, 
Peter Daniels, 
I Luke Metcalf, 
I Isaac Wyman, jr. 

EPHRAIH DORMAr<, C. 
Errors Excepted. 



The Alarm List belonging to Keene. 



Lieut. Seth Healon, 
Dea. David Foster, 
John Day, 
Abiaham Wheeler, 
Nathan Blake, 
Joseph Ellis, 
Uriah Willson, 
Ebenezer Nims, 
Duviil Nims, 
Gide'in E'lis, 
Lieut. Andrew Balch, 
Aaron Giay, 
Ebentzer Day, 
Eliphalet Bri-^gs, 
Benjamin Archer, 



Capt. Isaac Wvman, 
Doct. Ohadiah'Blake, 
Lieut. Timothy Ellis, 
Tiiomas F^ink, Esq. 
Doct. Josiah Pomeroy, 
Diet. Gideon Tifl'any, 
Elijah Willianis. 
Israel Houghton, 
Samuel Woods, 
Samuel Daniels, 
Jesse Cl-rk, 
Joseph Brown, 
R ibert GiUmare, 
Obadiah Hamilton, 
Peter Rice, 



Elisba Ellis, 
Isaac Billings, 
Josiah Ellis. 
Timothv. EHis,Jun. 
Ichabod Fisher, 
William Gray, 
Benjamin Hall, Jan. 
Benja.'.iin Osgood, 
Nathaniel Hall, 
Samuel Woods, Jun. 
John Coulee, 
."^amuel Colhoon, 
Ebenezer Cooke, 
Daniel Snow, 
Eliphalet Briggs, Jun. 



Jtnnals of Keene. 41 

From votes of the town, it appears that Nathan- 
iel Niles and Augustine Hibbert preached this year, 
as candidates for settlement ; and that, in 

1774, 

WilHam Fessenden and Elias Jones preached al- 
so as candidates. To the latter, the town unanim- 
ously gave a call, and offered him £133 6s. (id. as 
a settlement, and seventy five pounds as an annual 
salary. What answer he gave to the call does not 
appear. 

Elijah Williams, Esquire, an attorney at law, who 
came to Keene, in 177 1, was, this year, appointed 
a justice of the peace, as appears from the follow- 
ing precept. 

Province of JVetv-Hampshire, ) 

Portsmouth, 2iith May, 1 774. \ 

To Mr. Simeon Jones, Clerk of his majesty's 
court of General Sessions of the peace, for the 
county of Cheshire, in said Province. 

I am commanded by his Excellency the Gover- 
nor, to direct that you enter, in the general com- 
mission of the Peace, for said county, the name of 
Elijah Williams, Esquire, who is appointed, by his 
Excellency, a Justice of the peace, for said coun- 
ty. You'l, therefore, hereby take order according- 

ly- 

By his Excellency's command, 

THEODORiE ATKINSON, Sec'ry. 

The discussions and excitement, which preced- 
ed the revolutionary war, began, about this time, to 
extend to the interior towns. In Keene, nearly all 
the inhabitants were decided whigs ; but a few 
were neutral or silent,and a very small number were 
avowed tories. Against the two last classes, the 
popular indignation was often directed, and some- 
times with such irregular violence, as called for the 
interposition of the sober and considerate citizens. 

In a warrant, calling a town meeting, to be held 
the 26th of September, the following articles were 



42 Annals of Keene, 

inserted : " To see if it be the mind of the town 
to provide ammunition for a town stock, and grant 
money for the same." And " to see if it be the 
mind of the town to sign the covenant and engage- 
ment, which was sent and recommended, by the 
committee of correspondence, relating to the non- 
importation agreement." 

Upon the first article, the town " voted, to get 
a stock of ammunition for the town, viz. 200lbs. of 
good gun powder, 400lbs. of lead, and 1200 flints; 
and to raise twent)^-four pounds, lawful money, for 
providing said articles." 

Upon the other article, the following preamble 
and vote were adopted : " Whereas the towns, in 
this province, have chosen members to represent 
them in a General Congress of all the colonies, now 
sitting, at the city of Philadelphia, to consult and 
determine what steps are necessary for the colo- 
nies to pdopt, voted, therefore, not to sign the non- 
importation agreement, until we hear what meas- 
ures said congress have agreed upon for them- 
selves and their constituents." 

October l7th, Capt. Isaac VVyman, and Lieuten- 
ant Timothy Ellis, were chosen delegates to attend 
the county congress, at VValpole. No information, 
concerning the object or proceedings of this con- 
gress, has been obtained. 

1775. 

On the 4th of January, at a legal town meeting, 
the inhabitants voted, " to come into the measures 
recommended by the Continental Congress, in their 
association agreement." They chose, agreeably to 
said advice, Isaac Wyraan, Timothy Ellis, Thomas 
Baker, Dan Guild, and William Ellis, a commit- 
tee of Inspection. They also chose Isaac Wyman 
to represent the town, at the meeting, to be held at 
Exeter, on the 21st day of said January, for the 
choice of delegates to the Continental Congress. 

At a town meeting, held February 2:^, Captain 
Isaac Wyman was chosen " to represent the town 



Annals of Keene. 43 

in the general assembly, liolden at Portsmouth, on 
said '2:id clay of February, and so, day b}' day, dur- 
inj:; their sessions " 

On the l9th of April, was fought the battle of 
Lexina;ton. An aged gentleman, then an inhabit- 
ant of Keene, gives the following account of the 
proceedings of the citizens, on that occasion. The 
instant that news of the battle arrived in town, 
which was in the forenoon, Capt. Dorman, who 
then commanded tlie militia, called upon Capt. 
Wyman. " The regulars," said he, " have come 
out to Concord, have killed six men, and the battle 
was raging when t!ie messenger started. What 
shall be done .'*" " Send expresses," " said Ca[)t. 
Wyman, " to every part of the town, notifying the 
inhabitants to meet, forthwith, on the green, and be 
governed by their decision." Expresses were sent, 
the citizens met, in the afternoon, and a vote was 
unanimously passed, that a body of men should be 
sent to oppose the regulars. The question was 
asked, who shall lead them ? Capt. Wyman was 
nominated, was chosen, and though far advanced in 
years, cheerfully consented to go. Volunteers 
were then called for, and about thirty presented 
themselves. Capt. Wyman directed them to go 
home immediately, and prepare provisions tor their 
use, for, said he, " all the roads will be full of men, 
and you can procure nothing on the way ; and he 
appointed sunrise, the next morning, the time, and 
his house, the place of rendezvovis. At sunrise 
they met, and immediately started for Concoud. In 
the afternoon. Gen. Bellows, CoL John Bellows, and 
Thomas Sparhawk arrived from Walpole, and rid- 
ing to his house, enquired for Capt. Wyman. Be- 
ing answered, that he started at sunrise, at the 
head of a company of men, they exclaimed, " Keene 
has shown a noble spirit!" and hastened onwards. 
They were soon followed by a party of men from 
Walpole. 



44 Annals of Keene. 

At an informal raeetinac of the inhabitants, held 
the 27th of April, they chose Timothy Efiis a del- 
egi.te to meet the committee, at Exeter, and to sit, 
as a member, in the provincial congress, whenever 
they convene. He expressed his willingness to 
accept the office, but declared that he had not, and 
could not, in season, procure money enough to bear 
his expenses. The inhabitants, thereupon, voted, 
that he might draw from the treasury four pounds, 
lawful money. 

Soon after the battle of Lexington, several to- 
ries, among whom was Elijah Williams, Esq. left 
this vicinity, and joined the British, in Boston. 

In the warrant calling a town meeting, on the 
7th day of December, one of the articles was, " to 
see if it be the mind of the town, that the names 
of those persons, who buy, sell, or make use of bo- 
hea tea, be advertised in the public prints." At 
the meeting, held on the day appointed, this arti- 
cle passed in the negative ; but a committee of in- 
spection was appointed to see that the resolves of 
the Continental Congress be complied with. Af- 
ter dismissing two other articles, relating to the 
troubles of that period, the town unanimously 
adopted the following Resolves, which may be 
termed the Satute Law of Keene. And here it 
may be proper to state, that no judicial courts were 
held in the county, from 1774 to 1778. 

" Whereas, by the unhappy disputes now subsist- 
ing between Great Britain and the American Col- 
onies, the laws of several of them have been en- 
tirely subverted, or wholly neglected, to the great 
detriment of society, and of individuals, whereby, 
many disorderly persons, taking undue advantage 
of the times, and taking upon them the name of 
liberty, as a cloak to put their revengeful designs 
in execution, do wickedly and maliciously threaten 
to abuse and destroy the persons and property 



^innals of Keene. - 45 

of many of the good and wholesome inhabitants of 
the land, and the Executive ])Ovv« r heing thrown 
bv ; and the Congresses, neither Continental or 
provincial, have, as yet, found out, or pubUshed, 
any method or system of government, for the se- 
curity of our persons or property ; and until such 
a system as they in their wisdom shall see fit, or 
some other, be proposeil — 

*' We, the inhabitants of the town of Keene, in the 
County of Cheshire, and province of New-Hamp- 
shire, legally convened, being desirous of order 
and good government, and for the security of our 
lives, persons, and property, do pass the following 
Resolves : 

** \st. It is resolved, that a committee of three 
good and steady men of the town, be chosen to 
a^ t upon, and a proper officer appointed, to prose- 
cute the Resolves hereafter mentioned. 

" ±d. Whereas, profane cursing and swearing are 
highly provoking to Almighty God, and offensive to 
every true christian, which we fear, if not discoun- 
tenanced, will provoke the Divine Majesty to bring 
heavy judgments upon us, and still heavier, deliver 
us up to the desire of our enemies ; to prevent curs- 
ing and swearing, be it Resolved, that if any per- 
son, or persons, shall profanel}' curse or swear, and 
shall be thereof convicted, before the committee, 
by sufficient witnesses, or by confession of rhe 
party, every such offender shall foileit, and pay to 
the committee, for the use of the poor of said 
town, a sum not exceeding three shillings, nor less 
than one ; according to the repeatedness of the of- 
fence ; and pay cost of prosecution, which cost 
shall be ascertained by the committee, before whom 
the person shall be convicted ; and in case any 
per^on, convicted as aforesaid, shall reiuse to pay 
the sum or sums, so forfeited and adjudged, he, she 
or they shall be immediately committed to the com- 



46 Annals of Keene, 

mon goal, not exceediug ten daj^s, nor less than 
three, for said forfeiture, and until he pay all just 
costs. 

" 3d. Whereas, it is highly necessary that every 
person, of able bod}^ should betake himself to some 
honest calling, and not misspend their time, in loi- 
tering and tippling, in licensed houses, or else- 
where, in this town ; to prevent which, 

" Be it resolved, that if any person or persons, fit 
and able to work, shall refuse so to do, but loiter 
and misspend his or their time, w^ander from place 
to place, or otherwise misorder themselves, by 
drinking or tippling in any of the licensed houses,or 
elsewhere, in this town, after nine o'clock at night, 
or continue in any of the aforesaid houses above 
the space of one hour, unless on necessary busi- 
ness, all such persons, being convicted of any of the 
aforesaid articles, before said committee, by suffi- 
cient w itnesses, shall, for every such offence, forfeit 
and pay to the said committee, for the use of the 
poor of said town, the sum of two shillings, and all 
just costs of trial, wdiich shall be adjudged by said 
committee, and in case any person, convicted as 
aforesaid, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums, so 
forfeited and adjudged, he, or they, shall be com- 
mitted to the common goal, there to remain not ex- 
ceeding ten days, nor less than three days for said 
forfeiture, and until he pay all just costs. 

" Ath. Whereas, personal abuse tends to promote 
ill blood and discord among society, to prevent 
which, be it Resoked, that if any person or per- 
sons shall smite, or strike, or threaten to abuse, or 
destroy, the person or property of another, he or 
they, so ofiending, siiall,for the first offence, pay to 
the said committee, for the use of the poor of said 
town, the sum of five shillings, and costs of prose- 
cution, and double that sum for the second offence ; 
and for the third, or any after oflence, shall be im- 
prisoned, or publicly whipt, according to the judg- 



^^mials of Keene. 47 

merit of the committee, before whom they are con- 
victed ; ai)cl in case any person, being convicted as 
afortsitid, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums, so 
forfeited and adjudged, he or they shall be commit- 
ted to the common goal, there to remain, not ex- 
ceeding ten days, nor less than four, for said for- 
feiture, and until he pay all just costs. 

'* bth. Further, be it Resolved, that if any person, 
or persons, shall j)resume to purchase, or bring in- 
to this town, any teas, of what sort soever, until 
the minds of the Congress, respecting that article, 
shall be fully known, shall, forthwith, deliver up 
such teas to one or more of the committee, to be 
stored by them and kept for the owner, until the 
minds of the Congress be known respecting that 
matter ; and in case any person shall refuse to de- 
liver up said teas, the committee have power to im- 
prison him until he does. 

" 6M. And for the better execution of all and ev- 
ery the foregoing articles, it is resolved, that all 
and each of the said committee shall have full 
power and authority to bring before them any of 
the inhabitants of this town, or any person resid- 
ing in said town, that shall offend in any of the 
foregoing resolves, and upon his or their own 
views, or other sufficient conviction of any such 
offence, to impose the fine and penalty for the 
same, and to commit the offender until it be satis- 
fied. 

" llh. It is likewise Resolved, that the officer ap- 
pointed shall have power and authority to carry 
any person, that shall be found trespassing in any 
oi the foregoing particulars, before said committee 
for trial, and if need be, may command aid and as- 
sistance in discharging his trust ; and any person 
retusing to give aid or assistance, as aforesaid, he 
or they shall forfeit the sum of three shillings for 
eveiy oflf'ence, and have their names inserted in the 
public Gazette, as unfriendly to good order. 



48 vinnals of Keene, 

" And all masters and heads of families, in this 
town, are hereby directed to take effectual care 
that their children, servants, and others under their 
immediate jyovernment, do no trespass, in any of 
the fores^oing particulars." 

" Chose Thomas Baker, Eliphalet Briggs and Dan 
Guild, as a committee to judge, determine, and 
act upon said Resolves, and put them in execution, 
and chose Elijah Blake officer for the purpose men- 
tioned in said Resolves." 

'i he town voted, 37 to 27, to give Mr. John Rem- 
ele a call to settle as a minister. They offered him 
£1.33 05. 8rf. as a settlement, and 75 pounds as a 
salary. His repl}' was, " that the town had offered 
generously enough for his support, but he could 
not think it his duty to settle in any place, where 
there was so much opposition." 

The population of Keene, this year, was 756. 
1776. 

The representatives of the General Assembly, 
having desired their constituents to nominate jus- 
tices of the peace, the inhabitants, April 3d, " voted, 
unanimously, that it is the mind of this town that 
Col. Isaac Wyman be apj)ointed." 

August 2d, " Capt. Eliphalet Briggs was chosen a 
a delegate, to meet with other delegates, at Wal- 
pole, to consult and agree upon such methods as 
shall be thought necessary for the general good, 
and our mutual defence and salety." This conven- 
tion was called by order of a sub-committee of the 
several committees of safety in the county. 

The small pox having been introduced into the 
town, hospitals had been erected, where such per- 
sons as chose to resort to them, were inoculated. 
This disease, it seems, had been spread by persons 
leaving the hospitals without being sufficietiily 
cleansed ; whereupon, at a town meeting, held Se«»- 
tember 27, eleven resolves were passed, prescrib- 
ing strict regulations for the government of the 



Annals of Kee?ie. 49 

hospitals. Eliphalet Bricjas, mentioned in the pre- 
Cfdina; })arajj:i'a[)h, a worthy citizen, and stauncli 
wing, (lied ot this disease, and was buried at the 
foot of the hill, on the road ieadina; to Koxbury. 
In December, Jeremiah Siiles was chosen one of 
the committee oi" salety in his stead. 

1777. 

In the beginninj? of this year, Samuel Whitman 
preached as a candidate. 

January 1 4, the town nominated Jeremiah Stiles 
as a justice of tlie peace. They also voted to raise 
sixteen pounds for ammunition. 

The following memorandum is copied from the 
records ot this year : 

" VVHiereas orders were sent from the court to 
the selectmen, desiring tiiem to assist the com- 
manding ofiicets of the militia in the town, by caus- 
ing a town meeting to be called, in order to raise 
men for the continental army during the war, ia 
obedience to which, a legid meeting was warned, 
and the town met on the 3ist of March, made scv- 
eral proposals tor encouragement, and voted thirty 
piunds to each man, if a sufticient number would 
turn out, but as not any appeared, the meet ins: was 
dismissed and nothing voted, that was conclusive 
or valid." 

In May or June, a court, appointed by the com- 
mittees of safety in the county, was held at Keene, 
before whom were brought the principal tories in 
tlie county, to be tried for their offences or opin- 
ions. It has not been ascertaiYied who were mem- 
bers of this court, but Benjamin Giles, of New- 
port, and Col. Hammond, of Swanzey, were prob- 
ably two. The tories were guarded by a bod} of 
men, of whom Mr. Floyd, oi Walpole, was com- 
mander. The court sat nearly two weeks, before 
they came to any deci»jion ; and it was supposed 
by sonie, at the time, tiiat the object of tliis delay 
7 



50 Annals of Keener 

Was, that the viojcnt whigs, by whom they Were 
surrounded, might become weary and disperse, .i id 
leave them at liberty to give a more lenient judg- 
ment than WHS demanded. In the end, the court 
decided that the tories should be confimul to their 
farms, and give bonds for their good l)ehaviour. 

At a town meeting, held June 1 1, a committee 
was chosen " to state the price of articles, labor, 
&c. as a late law directs." The town voted tc pay 
to each man that has or shall enlist into the con- 
tinental army, for the term of three years, or dur- 
ing the war, to make up the quota of this town, 
tlie sum of thirty pounds, exclusive of the bounty 
given by this State ; and also to allow those that 
have done service in the war heretofore, in the 
«ame proportion as fifty-six pounds is for three 
years ; and a committee was chosen to make an 
ex^ct proportion of what every man had done ia 
the wai i J time past, in order that an exact assess* 
luoit may be made for the above said charge. 

In December, in town meeting, Capt. Stiles, 
Capt. Howlet, and Jabez Fisher were successively 
chosen representative, and each declined accepting 
the office ; Timothy Ellis was then chosen, and 
consented to serve. The town voted " to 'empow- 
er the representative to act in behalf of ttie town, 
in the choice of delegates to the continental con- 
gress. A similar vote was afterwards annually 
passed, from which it may be inferred, either that 
the town did not consider their representatives 
Jbad authority, or that the latter were unwillui to 
take upon themselves the responsibility of acting 
in this behalf, without such a vote. 

At the same meeting, the town " voted unani- 
mously to give Mr. Aaron Hall, who has been 
preaching among us, a call to settle in the work of 
the gospel ministry in this town." They also vot- 
ed to give him as a settlement £1 -$3 6s. bd., and an 
annual salary of eighty pounds, both sums " to be 



*dnnals of Keene^ ^1 

made equal in value to what the same sums were 
four \ eai s ago, when silver and gold were current 
among u>." 

The committee, chosen for the purpose, laid the 
proceedings of the town before Mr. Hall, who ac- 
cepted the call. The ordination took place on the 
1' th of February, 1778. Mr. Hall was a belovid 
and popular miuister to the time of his death, lO 
1814. 

1778. 

At a meeting, lield January 17th, the inhabitants, 
" after reading and confeiring upon the articles of 
confederation of tlie continental congress, voted 
that it is the minds of the town that they be estab- 
lished by this State." 

" Voted further to instruct the representative to 
Use his infl'ience, in the General AsNcmbl}, that a 
free and full representation of every town in this 
State take place to a convention, to meet at such 
time and place as the General Assembly shall ap- 
pomt," to form a plan of government for said 
State. 

Chose Capt Stiles, Maj. Ellis,and Capt. Griswoldj 
delegates to meet at Surry, and consult with the 
delegates of the other towns. 

V April 27, Jeremiah Stiles was chosen a delegate 
to meet in the convention to be held at Concord for 
the purpose of forming a constitution and plan of 
government for the State. 

It must be well remembered, by those at all ac- 
quainted_with our history, that the territory now 
constituting the State of Vermont, was originally 
claimed by New-Hampshire ; and that long before 
the revolution, the executive of this State granted 
many townships within its limits. It was subse- 
quently claimed by New- York, the government of 
which in many instances made grants of the same 
townships. This produced an animated,und in some 



52 Jlnnals of Keene. 

instances a virulent contest, between those wh© 
claimed the same land under these conflictnig 
grants; and between the officers appointed bv the 
cliff' rent States and their adherents. At a conven- 
tion of delegates from most of the towns in tiiis 
territory, then called the JNew-Hampshire Grams, 
held at Westminster, in 17 T7, it was declared an 
ii)dependent State, by the name of Vermont. — ■ 
Against this proceedinii, New- York pretested, and 
brought the subject before the Continental t on- 
gress. In June, 1778, sixteen towns, l\ingon 
Connecticut river, in New-Ham})shire, were, at 
their request, made to the legislature of \'ermo!it, 
admitted a part of the new State ; and, in Octcber, 
proposals were made to New-Hampshire, that all 
the towns lying west of the Masonian or curve 
line, should also be admitted to a union. WitI) sub- 
sequent proceedings of the Vermont legislature, 
not only these six.een towns, but most of the 
tovM.s lying on the west bank of the river were 
dissatisfied, and tlie project was started of so ex- 
tendmg the acknowledged boundaries of New- 
tlampshire as to embrace the dissatisfied towns in 
VernK)Yit. And many were in favor of erecting a 
Tn\ S ate, to be compostd of the western halt of 
INew-Hampshire, and the eastern half of Vermont. 
1 o determine on the course to be pursued, a 
convention ol delegates from the towns on both 
sides of the river was appointed, to be held at 
Cornish, on the J 9th of December. In the warrant 
calling a town meetnijj to be held at Keene, Dec. 
7th, an article was inserted, " to see if it be the 
ii^ind of the town to choose a delegate to meet at 
Cv'rnish, to take into consideration matters relating 
tt the St;)te of Vermont." At the meting, this ar- 
ticle was dismissed. 



Annals of Keene, 53 

1779. 

At a TYieetinfic, held March 2d, the town 
voted " that tlie selecinjen be a committee to <^\ve 
the representative instructions to use iiis influence 
that the delegates from this State to the Coutin- 
eutal Congress lay claim to the New-Hampshire 
grants, so called, provided that Congress will not 
coiifirm the same into a new State." 

In this year, Capt. Maik, of Gilsnm, probably 
incited by some of the zealous whigs in Iveene, 
collected a party with a view ot apprehending sev- 
eral tories, who resided here, and who were sus- 
pected of furnishing the enemy with provisions. 
On the evening of the 3Uth o( iVIay,* they assem- 
bled at Pattridiie's tavern, near VV right's mills, on 
tiie road to Surry. In the night. Mack sent forward 
several men, with directions to place themselves 
se'paratel\ at the doors of those houses where the 
tories resided, and prevent their escape. At sun- 
rise he rode into Keene, at the head of his party, 
with a drawn sword ; and when he came to the 
house of a tory, he ordered the sentinel, standing 
at the door, to " turn out the prisoner." The pris- 
oner being brought out, and placed in the midst of 
his party, he proceeded onward. Having gone 
through the street, collected all of them, and search- 
ed their cellars for provisions, of which he found 
little, he returned to the tavern of Mr. Hale, situ- 
ated where Dr. Twitchell's house now stands, and 
confined them in a chamber. 

But when he first made his appearance, infor- 
mation was sent to Mr. Howlet, who then com- 
manded the militia, ot the commotion in the village. 

* The first lint's of a song, remembered by arj aged citi/.en, fixes the clay wheo 
this party visited Keene. 

'' Upon 'he thirty-first of May, 

" Appear'd in Keene. at break of day, 
" A mob boti) bold jnd stout." 

Those who lived in these times, well remember that the mnscs Trere not silent 
' ^inid the din of arms. 



54 vinnals of Keene, 

He instantly sent expresses to warn his company 
to appear fortiiwith in the street, with their anns 
and ammunition. About noon, the} assembled, 
Mere paraded before the tavern, and ordered to 
load their muskets with powder and ball. Col. 
Ellis, a firm patriot, and frequently the represent- 
ative of the town, came also. He asked Capt. 
Mack if he intended to pursue his object ? I do> 
replied he, at the hazard of my life Then, said 
Ellis, emphaticall}, you must prepare for eternity, 
for the [)eopIe of Keene will not permit you to pur- 
sue this irregular mode of wreaking vengeance on 
any men, even if they are tories. Hearing this 
resolute speech, and perceiving the militia prepar- 
ed to resist them, the followers of Mack were in- 
timidated, and, one by one, deserted him. Finding 
himself alone, he went off himself, and the tories 
left their confinement. 

At a meeting, held July 7, the town chose a 
committee to hire and agree with five men to serve 
in the continental army, on the best terms they 
can ; and the same committee were empowered to 
hire two men for the Rhode-Island service, at the 
town's charge. 

Sept. 7, the town, " after hearing the plan of 
government, lately formed by the convention at 
Concord, read, and the several articles therein de- 
bated, voted unanimously to reject the same, for 
the following reason, viz. : — That the mode of 
representation is not agreeable to the sentiments 
©f the town." 

" Voted, further to instruct our delegate to use 
his influence,) if the convention proceed to amend- 
ments,) that the mode of representation be as fol- 
lows : — That every town, consisting of one hun- 
dred families, shall be entitled to send a represen- 
tative ; that larger towns send one tor each hun- 
dred families, and smaller towns be classed together 



Snnals of Keene. 59 

^o as to send one for each hundred families, and 
the whole to be paid out of the public cliest." 

At the same meeting, the following preamble and 
vote passed : — '-Wliereas the selectmen of Ports- 
mouth sent an address to this and the rest of the 
towns in this State, desiring their presence and 
assistance, by their delegates, to meet at Concord, 
ill convention, to see if they can come into some 
agreement to state the price of the several articles 
bought and sold in this State ; therefore, voted, 
/ tl at Capt. Jeremiah Stiles attend said convention, 
as a delegate from this town." 

Oct. 20, the town voted to raise three hundred 
and thirty pounds lor paying the charge of raising 
men for the defence of the State of Rhode-Island, 
and the sum of £4 3 1 for the charge of raising men 
for the continental service. 

1780. 

March 7, the town voted, " that the singing i<a 
public worship be performed without reading line 
by line as they sing." 

In the warrant calling a town meeting, to be 
iield July 20, the following article was inserted : — 
" Whereas, by an act of the General Assembly of 
this State, each town is obliged to provide month- 
ly a quantity of beef for the use of the continental 
army, for the space of five months ; therefore, to 
see what method the town will take to procure said 
quantity of beef." At the meeting, the town voted 
" to raise 1 1,300 pounds of beef; each person to 
have liberty to pay his equal proportion thereof in 
beef, or to pay so much money in lieu thereof as 
he was taxed in the last State and continental 
tax." 

In a warrant calling a town meeting, is the fol- 
lowing recital : " Whereas the selectmen have re- 
ceived letters from some of the principal gentle- 
men in this county, who think it advisable, in this 



56 Jlnnals of Keene, 

critical jiiHcture, that a county coTivention of dele 
<rates Ironi the several towns, be called, to meet at 
Walpole,the 1.5th of November, to consult on mat- 
ters relating; to the jurisdif tiou of the New-Hamp- 
shire Grants ;" — aisd then a meeting is warned to 
choose one or more persons to represent the town 
in said convention. At the meeting, held Nov. 1 3, 
pursuant to the warrant, Daniel Newcomb and 
John Houghton were chosen delegates. 

The following proceedirrgs ot this convention, 
are extracted from the '' Vermont State Papers," 
an interesting volume lately published by the au- 
thority of that state. 

" At a Convention of Delegates from the several tokens in the Countij 
of Cheshire^ in the State of New- Hamp^hire^ held at Walpoh, in 
said County^ on the 15th day of JVovernber^ in the year of our 
Lord^one thousand seven hundred and eighty. 
Voted, That Dr. Page, Col. Hunt, Capt. Holmes, Daniel Jones, 
Esq. and Col. Bellows, he a comnr)itfee to confer with gentlenioa 
from any parts of the territory, called the New-Hampshire grants, 
conceriiing the jurisdiction of the s«id grants, and to consider 
what is proper to be done by the inhabitants thereof, relativ«' to 
their jurisdiction ; that the same may be asc^^rtained and estab- 
lished Which committee, after due enquiry and consideratir>n, 
report as follows, viz. The committee appointed by the conven- 
tion, held at Walpole, November 15th, 1780, do report, that we 
have conferred with the several gentlemen present, who were 
committees from the different parts of the territory, called the 
New- Hampshire grants, viz Cumberland, Gloucester and Graf- 
ton counties, and do tiud, that many nnatters lately agitated, with 
respect to the jurisdiction of the New-Hampshire grants, render 
a union of the inhabitants of that territory indispensably neces- 
sary. The said inhabitants received the grants of their lands 
from the same jurisdiction, and settled them while a union was 
extant ; which was an implicit engagement of authority, that it 
should be continued. But we were unjustly deprived of the ad- 
vantages resulting from it, in the year 1754, by an arbitrary de- 
cree of Great Britain, to which we never acceded ; which de- 
cree, however, cannot be esteemed efficacious, since the decla- 
ration of independence ; it being one of those iniquitous meas- 
ures, by which they were attempting to oppress the colonies ; 
and for which we have since thrown off subjection. This being 
the case, the union re-exists. And shall we throw it off? God 
forbid. The situation of the territory aforesaid, by reason of 



Annals of JCfeiie. 



o< 



f.hoir bvMD^ a frontier, a« well as many other matters, which .ire 
Q!>vious, TPspectingf commerce and transactions ol a publi'- nature, 
tniikes it expcdieu* that they be united in all their interest*, in 
ordefto make their efforts, in that quarter, again«t the commoa 
enemy, more vigorous and efficacious. In r^^spect to government, 
great disadvantages may arise hy a division. In that case, de- 
linquents may easily evade the operation of justice, by passing 
from ne state to another, and thereby be induced more readilj 
to practice iniquity in that part where the body of inhabitants, 
and the principal traffick, centre. And we imagine that a unioa 
of public interests, is the only means by which the contentions 
and animosities, now subsisting among the inhabitants of the 
territory aioresaid, can be brought to a happy issue ; lor, so long 
as the course of justice is in different channels, where people 
are so nearly allied, disturbances will arise. From authentic in- 
formation, we cannot but apprehend, that the state of New-Hamp- 
shire is greatly remiss, if not grossly negligent (to call it by no 
harsher name) in trusting affairs of such great importance as the 
settlement of their western boundary, to a committee, some of 
%vhom, we conceive, would risk the loss of halt the state, rather 
than NevT-Hampshire should extend their claim west of Connect- 
icut river. And, from the best authority that can be obtained, it 
appears that the agent of the state at'oresaid, is endeavoring to 
confirm a division of the grants, contrary to their true interests ; 
which has given the people, on the grants, just occasion to rouse 
and exert themselves in support of an union of the whole. We, 
therefore, earnestly recommend, as the only means to obtain an 
union, preserve peace, harmony, and brotherly love, and the in- 
terest of the community in general, that a convention be called 
from every town within the said grants, to be held at CharK«s- 
town, on the third Tuep<lay of January next, at one of the clock, 
in the afternoon ; and that one or more members be appointed 
from each town, with proper instructions to unite in such meas- 
ures as the majority shall jud'^e most conducive to consolidate an 
union of the grants, and effect a final settlement of the line of 
jurisdiction. 

B. BELLOWS,-) 
S. HUNT, I 
D. .JON':S, iCommiUee. 
L. HOLMES, I 
W. PAGE, J 
In Convention, at Walpole, November 16, 1780. 
The above report being repeatedly read, — Voted, 
That it be accepted ; and a sufficient number of copies be 
printed and transmitted to the several towns on the New-Hamp- 
shire grants, on both sides of Connectirnt river, for their notice. 

8 



1)8 Jinnals of Keene. 

to appoint one or more members to attend the said p^eneral cob- 
vention ; which shall be deemed a suflicient notification. 
By order of the Convention, 

BENJAMIN BELLOWS, Chairman, 
A true Copy—Attest, DANIEL NEVVCOMB, Clerk:' 

At araeetms:, held Oec. 1 f, the town *• chose Tiai- 
oth}- Ellis and Daniel Newcomb delrcjates to repre- 
sent this town in the convention to be holden at 
Charlestown, the third Tuesday in Jafuiary next, 
to act relating; to the jurisdiction of the Ne^v- 
H unpshire Grants ;" and they voted " to instruct 
the deleojates to come into a union with said grants, 
in case they (the said grants) be annexed to the 
state of New-Hampshire, and not otherwise." 

1781. 

The convention was held at Charlestown, on the 
day appointed, and was attended by delegates from 
forty-three towns. A majority voted in favor of 
imiting with the state of Vermont. 

On the 24th of January, the selectmen, recitin;^ 
that, " by a late act of the General Assembly, each 
town is obliged to furnish their quota of men for 
the continental army as soon as possible," called a 
meeting to be held February 7, " to see what meth- 
od the town will take to raise their quota." 

At the meeting, thus called, the following votes 
were passed : 

Voted, to choose a committee to make an aver- 
age of what service each man has done heretofore^ 
as to hiring men or going personally into the ser- 
vice of the United States. 

Upon further consultation and, consideration, vo- 
ted to postpone the average to some future time ; 
and 

Voted, to divide the rateable inhabitants of the 
town into twelve equal classes, and each class to 
procure a man to serve in the continental army 
the space of three years, or during the war, upon 
their own charge, as soon as may bo. 



Annals of Keene, 59 

And a committee was chosen to divide the town 
into classes, and proceed as is diiected in the 
aforesaid act. 

At a meeting;, held Marcli 26, the town voted 
not to unite with the New-Hampshire Grants, on 
the west side of Connecticut river, bli being 
aijainst, and 29 in favor of the union. The town 
stood almost alone in tliis vote ; Hinsdale, Wal- 
pole, Surry, Gilsum, Alstead, Charlestown, Ac- 
vorth, Lempster, Wendell, Claremont, Newport, 
Cornish, Croydon, Plainfield, Grantham, Marlow, 
Richmond, Chesterfield, and Westmoreland voting 
in favor of the union. 

By virtue of a precept from the General Assem- 
bly, a town meetiiig was called, and held on the 
30th day of May, at which Daniel Newcomb was 
chosen a delegate to a convention, to be held at 
Concord on the first Tuesday of June, for the pur- 
pose of forming a plan of government. 

At the same meeting, the town voted, that Thom- 
as Baker stand in nomination for a justice of the 
peace, in order to be put in said oflice by the Gen- 
eral Assembly. 

At a meeting, held December 1 1, the plan of 
government, which had been agreed on by the con- 
vention at Concord, was laid before the town. 
" After hearing it read, and consulting upon the 
same," Josiah Richardson, William Banks, Ichabod 
Fisher, JVJajor H owlet, and Daniel Niiwcomb were 
chosen a committee " to make such remarks upon 
it, in writing, as ihey think agreeable to the town," 
and make report at a future meeting. 

At a meeting subsequently holden, this commit- 
tee reported, that " it appears to them that the fol- 
lowing paragraph in said form of government, viz. 
'* and to prevent an undue influence in this state, 
which the first magistrate thereof may acquire by 



^0 Annals of Keene, 

the long possession of that important office, as also 
to stimulate others to quality themselves for t!)e 
service of the public in the highest station, no 
man shall be elii;ible, as governor of this state, 
more than three years in any seven," is inconsis- 
tent with the rights ot the people of New-Hamp- 
shire, as declared m t)ie eleventh article, in the first 
pa-rt of said constitution ; and that when a person 
hath governed the state three years faithfully, and 
successfully, his fidelity and experience ought 
ralherto recommend him as a proper person to be 
elected governor the next year, than to disqualify 
him irom 20'.ernin2j within four years. The com- 
mit tee, therefore, report, as their opinion, that the 
for<'g( inji; paragraph of the said constitution ought 
to be t-xput!ged therefrom, and that the inhabitants 
of this town ought then to approve and accept of 
Slid constitution, without an} further alteration or 
aiii^ndmevt ; aud rather than said constitution 
should be rejected by reason of the foregoing ob- 
jection thereto, or be again sent for the examina- 
tion of the people, the committee are of opinion 
that the said constitution ought to be approved, ac- 
cepted a!;d established as it now stands." 

This report was unanimously accepted, thirty- 
two voting in favor of it, and none against it. 

1782. 
The town, March 5, voted a premium of 40 shil- 
lings, to be paid to any inhabitant of the town, for 
killing a grown wolf, and 20 shillings for killing a 
wolf's whelp, in this or any circumjacent town. 

At a meeting, held April lb, the town voted to 
choose a committee to make an account of the ser- 
vice each man has done in the present war, and 
make an average, so that each man may have cred- 
it for what he has already done ; and also to di- 
vide or class the inhabitants into twelve equal class- 
es, (credit for what each man has done to be given 



Jnnals of Keene. Gl 

him,) and each class to provide, or hire, a man fo;- 
tie space oi liiree years, or durincj the war, upon 
tiieir o\\ n cost ; said classes to be so made, that 
eacli pay equal taxes. 

A vote \sas also passed to reconsider a former 
vote ot tlie town, on the plan of government, and 
take the same into further consideration ; and u 
committee was chosen to propose amendments.' 

At an adjourned meetinjr, '" the committee on the 
constitution," recommended the following amend- 
ments, which were adopted, 53 yeas, 3 nays : 

ist. I'hat an exception be subjoined to the 17th 
article in the bill of rights, in the following words, 
viz. " except in cases w here it shall appear that an 
impartial trial cannot be had in such county, and 
the Legislature shall, by act, order the trial to be 
in some adjacent county,'* 

'2d. 'J hat the .3d article, in the bill of rights, be 
expunged, and the following article be substituted : 
" Ketrospt ctive laws are, in most cases, oppressive 
and unjust, and ought not to be made for the decis- 
ion of civil cases, or the punishment of offenders, 
unless in cases of persons absconding and going 
over to the enemy, as at the late revolution, where 
the laws prior to the offence were imperfect." 

.hI. As to the mode of representation, let it be 
as mentioned in the constitution, in all respects, ex- 
cepting the following amendments, viz. that fifty 
members for the House of Representatives be the 
present number; and the county of Rockingham 
having their equal proportion according to ttie 
number of ratable polls; said number in that coun- 
ts not to increase or diminish ; and the other coun- 
ties as they increase in number of ratable polls, 
to increase in number of Representatives, until 
they arrive to as great a number as the county of 
Roi kingham ; and that the delegates, at their firsi 
meeting, divide the counties into districts, and thew 



62 Annals of Keene. 

the delegates of each district, by themselves, vote 
for a representative for their own district, out of 
their own body ; and after each district is set offj 
the delegates to meet for the future in some con- 
venient place, in their own district, and annually 
electa member for said district. 

4th. That all persons who have now a right by 
law to be voters in town afiaiis, be considered as 
qualilied for electors of Goveinor, Senators, or any 
other officer, to be chosen by the people at large, 
as mentioned in the constitution, and that those 
who are elected have tiie same qualifications men- 
tioned in the constitution. 

bth. That tlje Governor be prohibited from 
erecting permanent fortifications without the ad- 
vice of counsel ; and from demolishing such as 
have been, or may be, constructed by order of the 
Legislature, or advice of council, without their as- 
sent. 

t)M. That annual elections are a sufficient secu- 
rity against every abuse of power ; such parts of 
the constitution as limits the number of years for 
•which a person shall be eligible to any office, be 
expunged from the constitution. 

Tie votes of this and of the other towns were 
transmitted to the state convention, which held an 
adjourned meeting in the summer of this year. By 
them a new draft was prepared, which was also 
submitted to the people. On the fifth of Novem- 
ber, the town of Keene vottd unanimously '^ to re- 
ceive the bill of rights as it now stands." A vote 
was also passed not to receive the other part of 
the constitution, except there be some amendments. 
And a committee wa& chosen to propose amend- 
ments. 

At an adjourned meeting, the town voted to ac- 
cept the constitution with the amendments propos- 
ed, which were as follows : 



Annals of Keene. 63 

1. That the mode pointed out in said coiistitu- 
iion for discharging the wages of tuC Representa- 
tives by the towns, will have a tendency to lessen 
the number, and by that means produce an injury 
to the State ; they, therefore, think it advisable 
that each Representative be paid, not only tor his 
travel, but also his wages, from the Treasury ot the 
State. 

2. That the General Court appoint all Judicial 
officers, instead of their beiuij; appointed b}' the 
Governor and Council, and that the Governor, of 
course, commission them. 

The disputes, which originated in the claim of 
the inhabitants of Vermont to bo acknowledged as 
a separate State, still continued to disturb the re- 
pose of the county. The new State had commis- 
sioned civil and military officers on this side of 
Connecticut river, between whom, and the officers 
commissioned by New-Hampshire, contests some- 
times arose, which the militia v, ere once called out 
to terminate. In September, when the inferior 
court, acting under the authority of New-Hamp- 
shire, assembled L't Keene, a mob, headed by Sam- 
uel Davis, ot Chesterfield, and composed of per- 
sons favorable to a union with Vermont, assembled 
also for the purpose of preventing the court from 
transacting business. As disturbances were ex- 
pected, a large number of the opposite party came 
into the village. x\t the opening of the Court, Da- 
vis, followed by his party, entered t!ie Court house, 
went up to the clt rk, laid his hand upon the docket, 
and declared it should uot be opened. At this mo- 
me))t, a Mr. Fairbanks, of Swanzey, addressed the 
Court, praying them to adjourn for an hour, that the 
people present might assemble on the common, and 
the strength ot both parties be ascertained. The 
Court adjourned ; the two parties paraded sepa- 
rately, Davis attliehead of one. and Fair!>anks, of 



64 Annals of Keene, 

the other. The former beinjj much the sma1Jes(i 
their courao:e failed, and the Court proceeded in 
thr-ir business without further molestation. 

D ivis and several others were arrested, bj a war- 
rant from the Court, and gave bonds to appear at 
the next term of the Superior Court, and to keep 
the peace. He then went out, and addressed his 
followers, advising them to be cool and orderly, as 
the most likely mode of obtaining <^heir object. 
When the Superior Court assembled, an attempt 
was also made to prevent it from proceeding to bu- 
siness, which entirely failed. Davis and two others 
were indicted, " for that they, with others, commit- 
ted an assault upon the Justices of the Inferior 
Court and their clerk, and compelled them to desist 
from executing the lawful business thereof." They 
pleaded guilt}', and threw themselves upon the 
mercy of the Court, who, " having taken matters 
into consideration, forgave them, and ordered theui 
to be discharged." At the same term, Robert Wser 
was indicted, for that he at said time, at Keene, to 
encourage the rioters, did openly and publickly, 
with a loud voice, in the English language, speak 
the following words, viz. " Col. Ashby (meaning the 
first Justice of said Inferior Court) is for arbitrary 
power, and arbitrary power he shall have ; damn 
the Court, and their authority." He also pleaded 
guilty, was forgiven and disciiarged. 

1783. 

At a town meeting, held June 19, the town " vo- 
ted unanimously that the Representative be in- 
structed to use his influence, that all w^io have ab- 
sented themselves from any of the United States of 
America, and joined with, or put themselves under 
the protection of, the enemies of the United vStatcs, 
be utterly debarred from residing within this State." 
This vote was passed at the request of the Repre- 
sentative, Daniel Kingsbury, to be instructed on 
the subject. 



Annals of Keene. 60 

The Continental Congress having proposed and 
re> o.iimeniled such an alteration in the eigiitii arii- 
cle of ihe Contederation, as to make the population 
of the several States, instead of the value of tlie 
gi anted land therein, the rule for the apporiiomneat 
of national taxes, (lie town, Septetnber 2, voted to 
at cept of tiie alteration of said article, as recom- 
n.ended by the Continental Congress. 

In the warrant calling a town meeting, to be h<^!d 
October 1 7, is found tlie following article: "To 
Cijoose a suitable person o represent trie town a' a 
convention, to be holden at Peterborough, the , id 
instant, to consult upon matters of public grievance, 
VIZ. a multiplicity of*" lawsuits, pensioni g tJie odi- 
cers of the army, and many others not nameti, m 
order to take some suita He measures for the redress 
ol said grievances." At the meeting, held on tlie 
d.iy appc inted, INlaj. Davis Howlet was elected, ad 
a . ommittee was appointed to give him instructions. 
1 MPse instructions were as follows : '^ T ut the said 
<•> "gate use his influence, in convention, that the 
f ;iuwing matters of grievance be laid before the 
(a neral Court : distress f)y law-suits; that all 
s '^s of neat cattle and grain be made a lawful ten- 
&. r for the payment of de bts, (in case of suits onh ,) 
the same to be appraised by judicious men under 
oath; to regulate the fee table, especially attorneys' 
f.rs, thnt t!iey may not draAv pay for the travel 
aal atlend'4>i.je of their clients in court, except in 
cases V. ij^.j-s jt^s »!ecessary for clients to attend ; 
t'attlt officers oi t. e continental army be not al- 
lowed live years pay ; that State securities be 
liicide a hiwfu! tender in case of suit." 

At a;; adjourned meeting, the doings of this con- 
yentio:. -re read, hut " the town, not fully agree- 
ing to aj;^ jve thereof, voted ^.^ dismiss the meet- 
ing." 

9 



€6 Annals of Keene, 

1784. 

The treaty of peace with Great-Britain havinsj 
secured to the tories the privilege ot retuniiii^ to 
this country, to collect their debts and settle their 
affairs, Elijah Williams, Esq. cam«i to Keene, for 
that purpose, in the beginning of this year. His 
appearance here so exasperated the zealous whigs, 
that they seized him and carried rdm before Thoai- 
as Baker, Esq. a Justice of the peace. What were 
the charges against him, or whether any charges 
were exhibited, has not been ascertained. The 
Justice, perhaps with a view to protect him frotn 
outrage, ordered him to recognize for his appear- 
ance at the Court of Sessions, to be held at Charles- 
town, in April, and committed him to the custody 
of the sheriff. With this, the populace were not 
satisfied, and they discovered an intention of as- 
saulting and beating him ; but he was surroundeJ 
and guarded to his lodgings by the old and the 
joung men who happened to be present. 

The animosity of the whigs, aggravated proba- 
bly by the arts of those who were indebted to him, 
was, however, so great that they determined he 
should not thus escape their vengeance. On the 
day before that appointed for the sitting of the 
Court, a party crncealed themselves in the pines 
near Fisher brook, intending, when he passed with 
the sheriff, to get him into tlieir power. The sher- 
iff passed without him, relying upon the promise 
he had made to appear at Court the next day. 
This circumstance excited their suspicions ; they 
came immediately into the street, seized Williams 
at his lodgings, and, placing him in the midst of 
them, repaired to a tavern in Ash Swamp. When 
he arrived there, two bundles of black birch rods 
wefe produced, from which it appeared that a place 
had been concerted to compel him to run the guant- 
let, with the view, probably, of inducing him, by 



tflnnals of Keene. 67 

ench borsh treatment, again to leave the country. 
B it by this time, a large number of considerate 
citizens had assembled and arrived at the tavern. 
A proposition was made, that the whole subject 
shoultl be referred to a committee. A committee 
was a|)pointed ; tneir report was too favorable to , 
Williams, to suit the majority, and was rejected. 
A lotlier committee was appointed, who reported 
that he should leave the town the next day, and 
leave the state the next week. This report was 
agreed to ; but the minority, still dissatisfied, pri- 
vately sent out messengers, to collect more of their 
fj lends This being communicated to those who 
were disposed to protect Williams, tliey advised 
him to retire immediately. An attempt was made 
to prevent him from mounting a horse, which had 
been offered him by a friend. A conflict ensued, 
in which the horse was overthrown, and several 
persons were knocked down with clubs. He at 
length, however, mounted, with the assistance of 
his friends, and rode through the crowd, which con- 
tinued to oppose him. 

The next da}^ he repaired to Charlestown, and 
presented himself to the Court, which, thereupon, 
passed the. following order : " that Elijah Williams, 
Esq. now in the keeping of Isaac Griswold, by vir- 
tue of a mittimus from Thomas Baker, Esq., contin- 
ue in the custody of the said Isaac, until he shall 
have transacted the business upon which he came 
into this part of the country, and then be p*^rmit- 
ted to leave this State, upon his good behaviour, 
without further molestation.'* After settling his af- 
fairs, Williams repaired to Nova-Scotia. Shortly 
after, in consequence of ill health, he returned to 
Deerfield, his native town, died, and was buried by 
the side of his ancestors. 



6^ *Snnals of Keene, 

1T86. 

At a meetins^, held January 12, the town chose a 
conuiuitee to take an account of all the services 
done bv the t( wi during tb.e late war, that the same 
niay be sent to the couMnittee of claims in said 
State. 

1788. 

January 7th, the town chose the Rev. Aaron 
Kail a delegate to sit in convention, to be held at 
Exeter." for the lull and free investig;a<ion, discus- 
si( i^, and decision upon, the proceedinajs of the 
Federal ( onventiort," which framed the constiiu- 
tion of tile United S tes. After a short sesMon, 
tl e Exeter conveniion, on the 2:)d of February, 
adjouriied to the "list of Jujse. 

February 8th, the town " voted, that they will 
rot. at present, shew their minds whether the) will 
acc< pt or refuse the new constitution." 

March , the town vote*! to accept the report of 
the con.mittee on the claims of those that servt d 
in the late war, and were not allowed in the lust 
a- eraiLte, so tar as that each one shall have two 
thirds ot the sums set to the several names iri said 
report ; and they aNo voted to i^ise. the sum of 
one hundred and six pounds, to pay the amount of 
tiiis and a former a^eraiie. The names and sums, 
mentioited in this report, are on the recoid, and 
are as follows : 





£ 


s. 


d. 


Simeon Clark 


2 


2 


4, 


Jo) athan Poi>d 


2 


2 


4, 


Maj. Davis Howlet 


2 


2 


4, 


Thos. Field 


2 


2 


4, 


Adin Holbnok 


2 


2 


4, 


Capt. Stephen Griswold 


2 


2 


4, 


Joshua Osfjood 


1 


12 


0, 


J( rathan Duinel 


1 


1 


2, 


Gideon Eiiis 


1 


i 


:^, 



£ 


s. 


d. 


i 


1 


2, 


2 


10 


2, 





i7 


2, 


4 


14 


0, 


1 


4 


0, 


2 


1 


2, 


1 


8 


iO, 


1 


i6 


«, 


2 


2 


4 



Jnnals of Keene, 69 

Timothy Ellis, 3d. 
Lieutenant Wright 
Ahratiam WJieeler 
Boyal Blake 
Capt. Richardson 
Benj. Willis 
1 aac Esty 
JMaj. Josiah Willard 
Samuel Hale 

17)0. 
Th<" number of inhabitants this year was 1314. 

After this period, but few, if any, events have 
occurred, which would be interesting or instructive. 
The adoption ol the National and State constitu- 
tions, and the regular administration of the laws, 
have calmed the agitations which once were too 
common, and compelled the restless and disconten- 
ted to engage in the quiet occupations of produc- 
tive industry. Society has improved, the town has 
prospered, and now presents one of the fairest evi- 
dences of the benisn effects of a regular govern- 
ment and of free institutions. 



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